Ford applies for patent on car that can automatically repossess itself

[skluth]

The entire idea of a self-repossesing car is predicated upon the assumption that self driving technology will be physically able and legally allowable on public roads.  And I mean true self-driving, not this Tesla thing where it can sort of drive itself under ideal conditions but always with a human driver ready to take over.

While one can argue we are closing in on the former, I don't think the latter is a guarantee. There's going to be a mish-mash of state and local laws covering the legality of driverless automobiles for a long time, I figure, until the technology hits some kind of critical mass where it becomes politically expedient to do something at the federal level.  The first time a truly autonomous vehicle hits and kills someone, the lawsuits will fly and the process of making driverless cars legal will bog down massively.

Which is quite absurd considering human drivers kill tens of thousands of people every single year, but if one robot car does it, suddenly it's Skynet trying to bump us off!

You haven't been keeping up. Self-driving cars are already here.

[kalvado]

The entire idea of a self-repossesing car is predicated upon the assumption that self driving technology will be physically able and legally allowable on public roads.  And I mean true self-driving, not this Tesla thing where it can sort of drive itself under ideal conditions but always with a human driver ready to take over.

While one can argue we are closing in on the former, I don't think the latter is a guarantee. There's going to be a mish-mash of state and local laws covering the legality of driverless automobiles for a long time, I figure, until the technology hits some kind of critical mass where it becomes politically expedient to do something at the federal level.  The first time a truly autonomous vehicle hits and kills someone, the lawsuits will fly and the process of making driverless cars legal will bog down massively.

Which is quite absurd considering human drivers kill tens of thousands of people every single year, but if one robot car does it, suddenly it's Skynet trying to bump us off!

You haven't been keeping up. Self-driving cars are already here.

Looks like there is a lot of remote control involved...

[ethanhopkin14]

The entire idea of a self-repossesing car is predicated upon the assumption that self driving technology will be physically able and legally allowable on public roads.  And I mean true self-driving, not this Tesla thing where it can sort of drive itself under ideal conditions but always with a human driver ready to take over.

While one can argue we are closing in on the former, I don't think the latter is a guarantee. There's going to be a mish-mash of state and local laws covering the legality of driverless automobiles for a long time, I figure, until the technology hits some kind of critical mass where it becomes politically expedient to do something at the federal level.  The first time a truly autonomous vehicle hits and kills someone, the lawsuits will fly and the process of making driverless cars legal will bog down massively.

Which is quite absurd considering human drivers kill tens of thousands of people every single year, but if one robot car does it, suddenly it's Skynet trying to bump us off!

You haven't been keeping up. Self-driving cars are already here.

That is the stupidest looking car I have ever seen. 

[Big John]

^^ The Homer?

[Scott5114]

That is the stupidest looking car I have ever seen. 

I think the Canoo is stupider-looking.

[Rothman]

That is the stupidest looking car I have ever seen. 

I think the Canoo is stupider-looking.

Or the Aztec...

[Scott5114]

I almost posted the Aztec too, but it seemed like too easy of an example.