A Robotic Taxi Named robuCAB 69
Roland Piquepaille writes "According to ICT Results, an EU-funded project named Embounded 'has achieved the twin, and apparently contradictory, goals of making embedded systems both smarter and tougher.' One example is the robuCAB, a '4 seat automated people mover' developed by a French company and built from a 4 wheel-drive electric chassis with on-board PC. This autonomous vehicle follows the curb and carries several embedded systems, with one camera on the path edge, another device tracking the angle and direction of the curb, while others control the gearing and acceleration. robuCABs are not totally independent. They move over pre-defined circuits which contain a series of sensors below the ground. But read more for additional references and a picture of two robuCABs on the road."
Wrong Name (Score:5, Funny)
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They named it WHAT now?? (Score:3, Funny)
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Not all cab drivers are trying to rob you, but some do.
This is stupid, but they are so thick they don't realise it! Here is why.
The first mile of any cab journey is the most profitable for any cab driver.
The starting price in cabs where I live (UK) is £3.00 (about $1.50), and after that each mile costs £1.20 ($0.65).
Going the long way round or taking a "scenic detour" is not worth the driver's time when you consider the payouts that guy has on his sheet.
Getting a drive can cost up to
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Satellite navigation totally fails in most European cities I've been to, I don't see how an automatic cab would work except maybe on some well defined overland routes, like from the airport to some trainstation.
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~Jarik
Nice name (Score:5, Funny)
Rob You Cab (Score:2)
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Funny, but I was thinking of the Dutch taxi industry. They're always amazed when I tell them how to get to obscure little towns without grand detours, cutting their 'clip' in half.
I now use the phrase 'honest as a Dutch taxi driver' with abandon and alacrity.
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"Hey honey, want to ride the rob you cab? It'll be fun!"
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Of course, RobYou-RefuseToTakeYouToABunchOfPlaces-GetLost-WeaveDownAlternatingStreetsToUpTheMileage-ForceYouToListenToCrapMusic-AndSpeakDebatableEnglish-Cab turned out to be a bit of a mouthful.
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When I work the late shift I get the cab home. Rob-U-Cab doesn't sound like anything new.
Total Recall (Score:1)
hmmmm (Score:4, Insightful)
these cabs require an underground infrastructure [guides in this case] that doesn't exist on most roads/highways that are frequently used by people- no only that but the farther you get out away from populated areas or even connections between populated areas, the less chance there's going to be anything for the cabs to go by as far as navigation is concerned. The whole concept relies on the idea that most roads or at least the ones commonly used will have these markers imbedded beneath the road and that is why it's not going to work for a while.
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So your entire comment is stupid.
RTFA.
RTFA.
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RTFP
RTFP
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This sounds really funny if you read it as though "Comic Book Guy" from The Simpsons were saying it.
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Punching them into existing roads would be easy. All you need to do is insure they are replaced (like road markings) when the road is dug up or re-laid.
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If they drop one sensor in every pothole in Manhattan, they will have all the streets on the island covered. Then they could replace, maybe a 25% (my rough estimate of the percentage of cabs that never go to the other boroughs) of the taxis with 3500 rob-u-cabs. Then we can all laugh as we watch robots try to navigate s
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Rob You Cab? (Score:2)
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Seeing and Waiting... (Score:3, Interesting)
Now, I could split hairs and note that every airliner I have flown on has had autopilot, probably of quality high enough to even land the plane, but it's not the same as sending a text and then 5 minutes later having a wheeled robot show up at my curb to whisk me away to....well, probably taco bell or something.
I think about these things. Like, when will I see my first bona-fide working (i.e. employed) humanoid robot? I asked my wife and brother and both agree it likely will be another 5-10 years and it will probably be at some fancy hotel or resort. This is of course assuming I somehow find myself at a fancy hotel or resort - I guess that's something to look forward to as well!
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.... nice pic ..... (Score:1)
I for one (Score:1)
Nova... (Score:1)
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http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/chevy_nova.htm [about.com] (This link is not meant to imply that about.com is an authoritative source of historical information. This was just the first hit on google.)
RobuCab = Rob You Cab??? (Score:1)
Rob-U-Cab? (Score:1, Redundant)
I can't wait. (Score:3, Insightful)
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Overthinking the problem... (Score:2)
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1. Remove $ from wallet.
2. Burn it.
3. Drink 400ml of your favorite distilled spirits.
4. Pass out.
You've just saved 40 gallons of gas and two days' hotel bill!!
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It's called train
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Ob (Score:1)
I'll start paying attention... (Score:2)
Payment? (Score:2)
oh.
Will we have, say, 20 seconds or so?
Easy (Score:2)
tag: ohnoitsroland (Score:1)
I should have recognized it from the signature link to his blog promising videos and/or photos at the end of the entry.
- RG>
tag: blogspam fuckroland (Score:2)
For a while the editors were good in snipping off his link whoring "for more information..." lines, but eventually he wears them down, I guess.
Cutting you off (Score:1)
Design (Score:1)
Is this a true 4-seat mover, built from scratch that way, or is it just two 2-seat movers joined together? The real future is in the one that is built with 4 seats from the ground up.
ABS in toasters? (Score:1)
Where's the kerb? (Score:1)