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Can a robot cross the road legally? — Parallax Forums

Can a robot cross the road legally?

PliersPliers Posts: 280
edited 2011-08-03 13:38 in General Discussion
As I day dream about great robotic inventions, I often stumble over the problem of a navigation system that may wander over public land, open land, sidewalks, roads, bodies of water, bodies of air?
Can a robot navigate a sidewalk on its own, legally?
Can a robot cross a road legally: A parking lot, a play ground, or a lake? I hope you get my drift.
If there was an accident I would hopefully have the correct insurance.


Boiler plate apologies for: spelling grammar and cohesion.

Comments

  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2011-08-02 19:14
    Pliers wrote: »
    As I day dream about great robotic inventions, I often stumble over the problem of a navigation system that may wander over public land, open land, sidewalks, roads, bodies of water, bodies of air?
    Can a robot navigate a sidewalk on its own, legally?
    Can a robot cross a road legally: A parking lot, a play ground, or a lake? I hope you get my drift.
    If there was an accident I would hopefully have the correct insurance.


    Boiler plate apologies for: spelling grammar and cohesion.

    Would you give up your driving privileges because your car insurance would be lower for a robot? I think we should start a poll on this question.

    They would probably test the robot out west somewhere where there are fewer cars but it would have to be approved by the department of transportation. They will also probably be very expensive and take years of debugging unless someone like General Motors with a lot of money spends the required amount to get the job done right.

    Autonomous vehicles are coming
    They are coming and we are not ready.

    On June 17, Nevada became the first state to legalize the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads without human intervention. AVs offer incredible potential advantages in safety, cost, and mobility. Their effect on traffic and land use could be deleterious or positive, depending on public policy.

    http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/07/autonomous_vehicles_are_coming.html

    Foxconn is replacing workers with three million robots. Do you really want to see a million out or work Chinese? It is better P.R. for Apple after one of the workers comitted suicide and others complained about working conditions so I guess this trend will be to get rid of human workers.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2011-08-02 19:19
    In today's society, I would be terrified to have any autonomous system out on its own. I could see all kinds of lawsuits and interesting burden of proof discussion as your robot disgorges tons of data from its internal data recorders.

    I would think the insurance would be very expensive.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-08-02 19:57
    Yes, to get to the other side.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2011-08-02 20:25
    DOT to run tests to see if drivers freak out when their car takes over

    http://audio.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/dot-to-run-tests-to-see-if-drivers-freak-out-when-their-car-take/

    Would you freak out?

    Some things like ice and snow can't be easily learned either because there isn't a tire in the world that won't slide on ice.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-08-02 22:45
    Pliers wrote: »
    ...
    Can a robot cross a road....

    Only if it's dressed like a chicken.

    robot-chicken-1.jpg
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2011-08-03 03:16
    Chuckz wrote: »
    Some things like ice and snow can't be easily learned either because there isn't a tire in the world that won't slide on ice.

    Sure it can be learned...
    In many countries with snow and ice, they hold special classes in this.
    If people can learn(I have my doubts sometimes, when I see the big pileups and general mayhem on the roads after the first snow comes... And long queues at tire shops to have the summer tires replaced with studded winter tires.), it should be easy to get an autonomous vehicle to handle it.
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-08-03 05:06
    I see great trouble in automatic vehicles (car or truck size) driving on a public road, mainly due to liability. For example, if you rear end somebody, it is unconditionally YOUR FAULT. However, if you are riding in an automatic car that rear ends somebody, than it can and will be argued that it's the ROBOT'S fault, and that the owner had no control of it whatsoever. This will cost the automobile maker HUGE in law suits and etc. related to injuries or damage caused by slightly defective cars.

    For a small robot crossing the road? Should be fine.
  • piguy101piguy101 Posts: 248
    edited 2011-08-03 05:26
    I think the trouble with automatic vehicles is that not all vehicles are automated, once all vehicles on the read are automated I believe it would be a large benefit to our country. But, to start out with some automated vehicles and some manual vehicles will be problematic.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2011-08-03 05:49
    Microcontrolled wrote: »
    I see great trouble in automatic vehicles (car or truck size) driving on a public road, mainly due to liability. For example, if you rear end somebody, it is unconditionally YOUR FAULT. However, if you are riding in an automatic car that rear ends somebody, than it can and will be argued that it's the ROBOT'S fault, and that the owner had no control of it whatsoever. This will cost the automobile maker HUGE in law suits and etc. related to injuries or damage caused by slightly defective cars.

    The person who owns the vehicle has liability. The person who owns and insures the vehicle has control of the vehicle because they can say "no" to it being on the road in the first place.

    Fed Ex has an autopilot system but a pilot sits in the cockpit just in case for purposes of takeoffs and landings just in case something goes wrong.
  • PliersPliers Posts: 280
    edited 2011-08-03 06:01
    I was not thinking so much as to automatic vehicles (car or truck size).
    More on the lines of human size, on a side walk, but may need to cross the road.


    Boiler plate apologies for: spelling grammar and cohesion.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2011-08-03 08:40
    I would think the legality of it is a minor issue compared to the liability if someone is injured (either perceived or actual) due to their fault or the robot's (robot wouldn't be at fault, robot owner would be at fault and LIABLE). Most municipalities have various laws, archaic or up to date, that pertain to what can and can't use the sidewalks, crossing the street would enter into obstruction of traffic, reckless endangerment and those types of concerns.

    Any laws on the books would need to be enforced and if thought unjust toward Roboticists (not the robots, obviously) then challenged in court. Breaking these laws would result in a misdemeanor fine and nuisance charges in most cases. Personal and property damages would be the BIG issue (I detect a theme here).

    We'll all be watching the Orlando news to see how things go! :smile:
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-08-03 10:55
    A key factor in any liability issues will be "who is at fault". As the owner of the robot, you will be at fault, regardless of the fact that the robot is roaming on its own. As autonomous vehicles are becoming more popular in the hobbyist realm, I am sure new laws regarding them will not be far behind. Anti-terrorism laws will also be addressing them I am sure.
    mindrobots wrote: »
    MOV OUTA, PEACE
    Love it!
  • PliersPliers Posts: 280
    edited 2011-08-03 13:38
    Thanks for all the input.
    I liked that robot chicken and all the comments made.
    Liability is the main concern now, but in the future there will be laws restricting the free movement of robots.
    I would suggest that a free range robot have a good memory so as to replay its sensory data in case of an accident.



    Boiler plate apologies for: spelling grammar and cohesion.
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