 April 8, 2009 - 11:20am | I recently have been mulling over some new tech in my mind... Initially, this was simply a way to consider how a PC could fire a rifle from a cycle, but it has expanded. I was thinking about a computer system added to vehicles that allows some sort of ground "auto pilot". That way, the driver of a vehicle could do other things (such as fire a two handed weapon or even a heavy weapon) rather than focusing on driving the vehicle. Of course, to drive around obstacles and pursue and do other "combat driving" I would imagine the computer is such a device would have to be at least Level 3, maybe more. But there could be different classes of the device. A cheaper SGCS that simply drives down a dirt road that does not have any turns could be an option as well. It could be broken down into computer programs: Follow a simple road More complex GPS-style self driving with minimal traffic Drive peacefully with traffic Avoiding obstacles at high speed Pursuit A-Team style combat manuevering The price would be governed by its functionality. |
 April 8, 2009 - 11:28am | I have been looking at a some gear from ShadowRun that might fit this bill. Just skimmed over it, but I am planning on going back to it for possible adaption to SF. Time flies when your having rum. Im a government employee, I dont goof-off. I constructively abuse my time. |
 April 9, 2009 - 10:11am | Can I get the "A-Team Module" with music?  The skimmer was running at top speed, but I clenched the controls in frustration at every corner as the magnetic control fields slowed us to a safe speed. I would surmise that traffic control technology could "talk" to the vehicle and safely maneuver it in city. if the vehicle maintained its "Cruise Speed". A more enhanced version could ping the local traffic database and uplink to a satcom for outer city movement (or even evasion). Are you going to build a rule set compatible with the AD Vehicle section? |
 April 10, 2009 - 12:50pm | DARPA had a robotic competition last year where they set up a "city" on an abandoned Air Force base. Then vehicles had to navigate along a pre-determined route within a time limit, while obeying traffic laws and staying out of accidents. Three teams actually created a robotic car that completed the challenge. The team from Carnegi Mellon University won with the fastest time. http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/index.asp |
 April 10, 2009 - 1:37pm | They have those contests frequently, because they're trying to develop driverless vehicles to improve driving mortality rates. Sounds like Star Frontiers to me. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
April 11, 2009 - 3:35am | DARPA is part of the defense department. They want to develop things like robotic convoys to mitigate the threat of roadside bombs and ambushes. I really hadn't given much consideration to the application for civilians. |
 April 11, 2009 - 5:33pm | Can I get the "A-Team Module" with music? The skimmer was running at top speed, but I clenched the controls in frustration at every corner as the magnetic control fields slowed us to a safe speed. I would surmise that traffic control technology could "talk" to the vehicle and safely maneuver it in city. if the vehicle maintained its "Cruise Speed". A more enhanced version could ping the local traffic database and uplink to a satcom for outer city movement (or even evasion). Are you going to build a rule set compatible with the AD Vehicle section? Has anyone ever seen the second season premiere episode of SeaQuestDSV? In one of the opening scenes, Bridger(Roy Schieder)is hauling ass down a Florida highway, when he trips a traffic control sensor, which then scans his license plate and uploads the info to a traffic control center, who then informs Bridger that he's been caught speeding and the fine will be deducted from his Social Security account. That kind of system, I think, would be effective in handling the obscene amount of moving violations cops have to handle on a daily basis, plus it can flag acts of truly reckless driving and allow for the deployment of spike strips and arrest teams well ahead of the speeding vehicle, reducing fatalities from high-speed pursuits. Also, a license plate scan would be able to detect stolen vehicles or someone with outstanding warrants, minimizing cops having their heads blown off from otherwise routine traffic stops, while making sure any suprises are to the disadvantage of the bad guys. "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
April 11, 2009 - 5:35pm | DARPA is part of the defense department. They want to develop things like robotic convoys to mitigate the threat of roadside bombs and ambushes. I really hadn't given much consideration to the application for civilians. Is that part of the Future Combat System or something completely different? "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
 April 11, 2009 - 7:55pm | So how do you see it Will? If it flags a person with outstanding warrents, would the vehicle lock the doors and automatically drive to the nearest police station? That would suck if you were a pc with a dark side and no tech skills to try to over-ride the auto pilot. Many sci-fi shows have these ideas. I just watched I, Robot with my daughter the other day and Will Smith's character kept taking his car off auto pilot. I have brief flashes of other shows with similar deals but don't recall titles (The Island, maybe as one?). Btw, I heard something about a new Segway being produced that is supposed to have something like an auto pilot. I don't know the specifics because I wasn't paying much attention at the time. |
April 11, 2009 - 9:29pm | So how do you see it Will? If it flags a person with outstanding warrents, would the vehicle lock the doors and automatically drive to the nearest police station? That would suck if you were a pc with a dark side and no tech skills to try to over-ride the auto pilot. Many sci-fi shows have these ideas. I just watched I, Robot with my daughter the other day and Will Smith's character kept taking his car off auto pilot. I have brief flashes of other shows with similar deals but don't recall titles (The Island, maybe as one?). Btw, I heard something about a new Segway being produced that is supposed to have something like an auto pilot. I don't know the specifics because I wasn't paying much attention at the time. I completely forgot about the movie version of I, Rowboat(one of only two Will Smith movies, I've cared for, other than Ali), and now that you've mentioned it, I remember the scene. If sophisticated enough, the system could lock you in and drive you to the station if you'd been flagged with outstanding warrants; it would also have to be smart enough to wipe your biometric data from the car's computer as well. As for this turning on the PC with a criminal background(assuming his outstanding warrant is either Frontier-wide or recognized by the authorities of whatever planet he's on)and no tech skill, he'd probably attempt removing the windshield(by whatever force he could muster)and then attempt to jump clear of the vehicle(at a significant DEX/RS penalty, and some damage upon landing). Of course, he would still be wanted by the law, and his biometric data will be uploaded to every police computer on planet.... Come to think of it, a computerized system wouldn't prevent auto theft, but it would make it an order of magnitude more difficult, especially if you have to enter some sort of biometric information to even unlock the driver's side door. I heard the same way, and having driven, I can safely say I'd take a computer behind the wheel over some humans I know. Computers never try to drive and use the damn cell phone at the same time. Computers always know to signal before turning. Compuiters never clip your front end as they slide in ahead of you in traffic. See my point yet?  "You're everything that's base in humanity," Cochrane continued. "Drawing up strict, senseless rules for the sole reason of putting you at the top and excluding anyone you say doesn't belong or fit in, for no other reason than just because you say so." —Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stephens, Federation |
 April 11, 2009 - 11:48pm | DARPA is part of the defense department. They want to develop things like robotic convoys to mitigate the threat of roadside bombs and ambushes. I really hadn't given much consideration to the application for civilians. California's DoT used to have elimination of civilian operated private vehicles; the often contribute to similar projects to DARPA's... |
April 14, 2009 - 3:18pm | DARPA is part of the defense department. They want to develop things like robotic convoys to mitigate the threat of roadside bombs and ambushes. I really hadn't given much consideration to the application for civilians. Is that part of the Future Combat System or something completely different? I don't know if they have a relation to the Future Combat Systems or not. They have been having this competition for several years. The first year they had to navigate across the desert without any human guidance and all of the vehicles failed. The next year a couple made it. So the next year they made it twice as long with more obstacles and a couple of vehicles made it. Now last year they did the urban challenge. It's usually entered by the big technology schools like Carnegie Mellon and MIT, as well as some industry groups. They have cash prizes for the winning teams. It's a really neat technology incubation type of program. |
