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Post by Marshall on Sept 22, 2017 8:20:04 GMT -5
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Post by millring on Sept 22, 2017 8:38:59 GMT -5
Dar said a driverless delivery car drove by a couple of days ago.
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Post by millring on Sept 22, 2017 8:40:58 GMT -5
What I've been curious about -- it would seem like we are in the midst of some kind of economic boom in this country if rail traffic is any indicator. Warsaw is the crossroads of two rail systems and our town is virtually shut down a few times a day by the exponentially increased rail traffic. I don't know what industry is so booming, but the rails are busier than I have ever in forty years seen them.
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Post by millring on Sept 22, 2017 8:42:15 GMT -5
My friend said that when he first moved to Florida he thought a lot of cars were driverless until he finally noticed the old people who barely peered over their steering wheels.
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Post by Marshall on Sept 22, 2017 8:46:37 GMT -5
Don't know about the rails. I suspect that the RR industry has found it's niche in the global mix. It's the cheapest way to move containers across the continent. There's a big yard out around Joliet that offloads containers onto flatbed trucks. I suspect they deliver them to Walmart distribution centers.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Sept 22, 2017 8:50:58 GMT -5
What I've been curious about -- it would seem like we are in the midst of some kind of economic boom in this country if rail traffic is any indicator. Warsaw is the crossroads of two rail systems and our town is virtually shut down a few times a day by the exponentially increased rail traffic. I don't know what industry is so booming, but the rails are busier than I have ever in forty years seen them. Wild ass uneducated guess as to why you might see more rail traffic. The rail lines were all built out, what, 50 yrs ago? The population increases means that shipping by rail is maxing out the system. Here on the west coast the freeway truck traffic is insane, but without out it, stores don't have goods to sell. I forsee a time when personal transportation is restricted so the trucks can get through. Mike
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Post by Marshall on Sept 22, 2017 8:52:39 GMT -5
For me, driverless vehicles would be a boom. Nice trip over to Iowa. Plug the coordinates in the system, sit back and take a nap.
But the article talks about roadside motels going away. I know when I have a morning project meeting in La Crosse, many times i drive halfway up, get a room somewhere, and get up the next morning and make the final 1 1/2 drive to the project site. Getting up very early and doing a 4 hour drive makes for an awful day. But with a driverless car it would be easy. No motel.
But really, when I think of all the good paying over-the-road truck drivers that would be affected, I realize the transition will be brutal for some.
Whatever will happen to the World's Largest Truck Stop ? ! ? !
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Post by Marty on Sept 22, 2017 8:53:31 GMT -5
Ever sleep in your car? Not what I call a good night's rest. I don't think it will hurt the hotels that much. Are these new automated cars going to have a restroom in them, a shower? Automated RVs will probably be a hit, a bathroom, kitchen and bedroom without having to stop. Huge truck stops may be replaced with roadside malls that carry anything a traveler might need.
I'm just looking for things to pick at and I'm pretty sure we could do that with every one of the 10 points he makes.
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Post by Marshall on Sept 22, 2017 9:02:07 GMT -5
The point of the article is there will be disruption. It's a numbers game with all these industries. There will always be a need for some road side conveniences. But will the traffic support the numbers that are out there? Margins are slim in most businesses.
There still are blacksmiths, you know.
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Post by Marshall on Sept 22, 2017 9:05:27 GMT -5
I did chuckle at the Uber discussion. Right now, Uber has it great. They have a little phone AP and a payment mechanism. No overhead. If they have to buy and maintain a fleet of driverless-vehicles, it's a much bigger nut; totally outside their original business plan.
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Post by patrick on Sept 22, 2017 9:19:06 GMT -5
I did chuckle at the Uber discussion. Right now, Uber has it great. They have a little phone AP and a payment mechanism. No overhead. If they have to buy and maintain a fleet of driverless-vehicles, it's a much bigger nut; totally outside their original business plan. No, but they could lease them, then it's the manufacturer's problem to maintain them. I used to feel guilty about ordering from Amazon because the fullfillment centers were close to labor camps, extremely low pay to people who were constantly pushed to work harder running up and down isles to pick products off shelves for shipping. That's all gone now. Amazon Warehouse
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Post by majorminor on Sept 22, 2017 9:33:44 GMT -5
I'd never buy one. I have CONTROL issues.
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Post by Chesapeake on Sept 22, 2017 10:03:39 GMT -5
I don't care what anybody says, I am not going to go to sleep in a car that is driving itself across the country. Harrumph.
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Post by aquaduct on Sept 22, 2017 10:09:03 GMT -5
I don't care what anybody says, I am not going to go to sleep in a car that is driving itself across the country. Harrumph. Of course you won't. At best you'll sit bolt upright and wide awake with your ass cheeks crawling across the seat surface as a machine dodges traffic and deer, etc. You'll never even get me in anything self driven.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 10:25:03 GMT -5
My friend said that when he first moved to Florida he thought a lot of cars were driverless until he finally noticed the old people who barely peered over their steering wheels.
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Post by RickW on Sept 22, 2017 10:30:16 GMT -5
Really, Peter? I know you trust yourself, but just think of all the asshats out there you'll no longer have to worry about. We had this discussion not that long ago, it's funny, it's getting closer to reality, more folks seem to be accepting it. Bars and restaurants will love it - no worries about drunk driving? Pound down two scotches, then a bottle of wine. This is the great conundrum, Marshall. Work and automation. Driving jobs going away. Retail jobs going away. I have heard that a lot of the top paying jobs, such as accounting and lawyers, are going to be severely reduced because of AI. Yet, right now, we are basically, in most large cities, at 0 unemployment, because even though we have a percentage of people not working, there are jobs going begging. Was reading an article yesterday about fast food restaurants closing because they can't get enough workers. It's going to be a wild ride.
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Post by majorminor on Sept 22, 2017 10:38:21 GMT -5
I must be weird because driving is on my short list of things I love to do and would hate to give up. Like breathing, eating, drinking, screwing, driving. Now that I'm older and can actually afford a nice car I may in fact like driving more than screwing if I'm being honest. I mean I've never thrown my back out driving to the store y'know?
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Post by Doug on Sept 22, 2017 10:39:24 GMT -5
I'm not sure about around town but for long interstate trips I'm in.
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Post by aquaduct on Sept 22, 2017 11:10:47 GMT -5
Really, Peter? I know you trust yourself, but just think of all the asshats out there you'll no longer have to worry about. We had this discussion not that long ago, it's funny, it's getting closer to reality, more folks seem to be accepting it. Bars and restaurants will love it - no worries about drunk driving? Pound down two scotches, then a bottle of wine. This is the great conundrum, Marshall. Work and automation. Driving jobs going away. Retail jobs going away. I have heard that a lot of the top paying jobs, such as accounting and lawyers, are going to be severely reduced because of AI. Yet, right now, we are basically, in most large cities, at 0 unemployment, because even though we have a percentage of people not working, there are jobs going begging. Was reading an article yesterday about fast food restaurants closing because they can't get enough workers. It's going to be a wild ride. Where are the asshats suddenly going to go so that I don't have to deal with them? Self-driving cars are the modern version of the flying car delusion. It's applied technology that really offers no substantial advantage over current technology. Sure, everybody loves it now- when it's free. Check again when folks have to start putting down $20 or $30K to live with it. Nope, not too worried that my beloved F150 that I drive is going anywhere soon.
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Post by aquaduct on Sept 22, 2017 11:12:31 GMT -5
I must be weird because driving is on my short list of things I love to do and would hate to give up. Like breathing, eating, drinking, screwing, driving. Now that I'm older and can actually afford a nice car I may in fact like driving more than screwing if I'm being honest. I mean I've never thrown my back out driving to the store y'know? Word. And you aren't all that weird. At least that I can tell.
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