Vyralize: If you’re still at CES and have a valid driver’s license, you can actually test try BMW’s all-electric i3 before it goes on sale!
PC Gamer
It’s really, finally, truly, seriously-not-kidding, actually happening: reversible USB connectors are on the way. The USB Type C connector, a small connector that looks a bit like Apple’s Lightning cable, was ratified back in mid-2014. But we haven’t seen any electronics adopt Type C yet; it typically takes months, if not years, for specifications ratified by the USB Implementers Forum to make it into real products. They’re finally coming in 2015.
Autonomous cars are getting more and more popular, various companies trying to catch up to Google’s attempts, and they are progressing fast. The newly unveiled self-driving BMW i3 series gathered quite the crowd at CES 2015 showing off a couple of cars that might be better drivers than me. Let me rephrase that: they already are better drivers than I am, even though they haven’t been launched yet. In any case, the self-driving BMW i3 series is the newest endeavor in autonomous vehicles lining up to Google’s car, as well as Mercedes‘ self-driving model, too.
How does it handle in the snow and ice?
How does it make split second moral decisions that will result in the death or life of individuals.
How does it handle people on bikes? Does it differentiate between animals and humans? How?
Oh. It parks well. Well whooopidie do!
"How does it handle in the snow and ice? "
If this wasn't considered during the development of these cars, the team deserves to be fired. Answer - probably better and more responsibly than humans
"How does it make split second moral decisions that will result in the death or life of individuals. "
Since the computer reacts to situations much more quickly than a human, it would be extremely rare for these 'moral decisions' to actually come up at all. Can you think of a good example where a delay of mere milliseconds on a response is not enough to save the lives of both parties?
"How does it handle people on bikes? Does it differentiate between animals and humans? How? "
No need to differentiate, just don't hit either of them. Would it be approved if the car hits people on bikes? Google's car already deals with cyclists effectively, I'd be surprised if these cars don't.
Even though your questions are warranted, if you had read the article, you would know that the car is not a finished prototype, it can't be put on the streets yet and it does respond well to any kind of obstacles that pop in front of it, if driven at low speeds. That being said, you would have known that the systems are not yet as advanced as to cater to a complete driving experience. It can park and retrieve your car for you, though, and that can still be called progress. :)
@both above.
Car companies can't even get back up cameras, defrost, and all wheel drive right.
The best situation for cars like these will be in warm climates.
Even though the technology seems pretty well-developed, self-driving BMW i3 series won’t be on the streets soon. The German company is still working on perfecting its highly autonomous vehicles and plans to release the software and hardware necessary later on.
I’ve never driven a BMW, or an electric car, so I might have been an odd choice to test drive the new BMW i3, the German car maker’s all-electric hatchback, which packs the equivalent of 170 HP into its electric engine. But an unexpected reviewer might be the perfect candidate for an unexpected car.
