VisLab Sponsors Milan-to-Shanghai Driverless Trek

incuso writes "VisLab announced the most advanced challenge so far ever organized for autonomous vehicles. Two driverless electric cars will perform a trip from Italy to China to demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous driving in real traffic conditions. Each vehicle will be equipped with five laser scanners, seven cameras, GPS, inertial measurement unit, three Linux PCs, and an x-by-wire driving system. The mission will start on July 10 in Milan, Italy, and will reach Shanghai, China, on October 10 (10/10/10) on a 13,000 km route though Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and finally China."

Auto-Autos

[wagonlips]

Should an autonomous car be called an auto-automobile?

Re:The catch is,

[Nadaka]

Perhaps it is illegal to drive an autonomous vehicle, those 3 linux pcs are going to rot in jail if they ever get caught.

Re:Several key concepts missing from the summary

[Anonymous Coward]

Didn't you read the summary, the auto-automobile has five lasers! Cut off at your own risk!

Re:What about the fuel?

[bitflusher]

Cars don't need fuel, that was just implemented to prevent sleep driving on long trips, this car has no driver so it does not need that function.

Really??

[Hermaniac]

So, to "demonstrate the feasibility of autonomous driving in real traffic conditions" they are sending the cars not only through areas that, for the most part, have fuck all traffic, but also on a trip that practically no-one would do anyway. Well done.

What anti-theft protection do they have . . . ?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

When renting a car in a western European country, the first thing that Hertz will tell you, is that you are not allowed to drive the car to an eastern European country. Because "the car will not make it back." Hertz says the same thing when you rent in Texas: "You cannot take this car to Mexico".

So what anti-theft-AI is planned for these vehicles? Maybe those lasers can do more than just scan?

A car loaded with so much luxury high-tech accessories would surely make a tempting target for a thief. Maybe the cars will just autonomously disappear?

Re:Two Russian problems

[Erikderzweite]

Well, strong motor and chassis, good tires, suspension, tough bumper let you drive over one of the two problems. But then again, there are also roads on the way.

Re:Auto-Autos

[Anonymous Coward]

... or the border guards end up raping that slutty car that was asking for it.

That's why these cars have built-in bribe dispenser!

Re:What about the fuel?

[K. S. Kyosuke]

When driving downhill, it's powered by gravity.