Can Humans Ensure Self-Driving Cars Make Ethical Decisions?
Are you into technology? If you are, I’ve got a great read for you. Chances are you’ve heard about autonomous cars or self-driving cars, cars that don’t require a human to drive.
Are you into technology? If you are, I’ve got a great read for you. Chances are you’ve heard about autonomous cars or self-driving cars, cars that don’t require a human to drive.
While many have been incredibly shocked by the news that General Motors will shutter multiple factories and lay off thousands of workers, some in the auto industry could see this coming. That doesn’t make the shift any less difficult for the families who now wonder what the future holds for them financially.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent the future of automobiles is electrified. Exactly what form or shape that will take is most definitely up in the air. While Tesla has been disrupting the market and rattling major automakers, other startups are quietly creeping in to grab some of the spotlight.
One of the biggest weaknesses of electric cars is the limits of lithium-ion batteries. Some EV advocates get bent out of shape about this fact, but it’s absolutely true. Most consumers have second thoughts about buying an all-electric vehicle when they learn that even with rapid charging options, which they likely won’t have at home, the car needs to stay plugged in for about half an hour or longer just to achieve an 80 percent charge.
The Toyota Supra is an automotive legend. It’s right up there with some of the greats, thanks to the legendary tuning capabilities of the 2JZ-GTE engine. In the right hands, the engine could be elevated to the point that it would go toe-to-toe with supercars. Then there was the A80’s chassis, which handled all that power with grace.
The Trump administration is following through with promises to cut back on vehicle fuel efficiency standards installed under the Obama administration, known as CAFE. The CAFE standards mean that by 2025 fuel efficiency for an automaker’s fleet will need to average 50 mpg. While ditching CAFE has excited a fair amount of performance enthusiasts, the fact is they and everyone else should be concerned about what could and likely will follow.
If I were to ask most people what the connection between Porsche and Toyota is, they’d be confused. After all, there’s a big difference between a 911 and a Corolla. The German and Japanese automakers on the surface are about as different as bratwurst and sushi. But, Porsche likely owes its continued existence to Toyota.
"Be ready to revise any system, scrap any method, abandon any theory, if the success of the job requires it,” said Henry Ford in 1923.
The automotive industry requires it and 3D printing, by turning designs into solutions, is used for rapid tooling and jig and fixture design in remarkable ways. It may be fulfilling Ford's prophecy.
California automaker Tesla stirs up controversy and generates a lot of interest from fans as well as critics. Recent events make the future of the company look a little uncertain. Naturally, critics like Bob Lutz (the former GM executive) are foretelling Tesla’s doom, while fans say this is a consequence of making the most revolutionary cars ever.