There are sometimes episodes that remind us that things change even when we seem immobile. And that the future comes sooner or later. Let’s take cars that drive themselves. They seemed imminent, preceded by thunderous announcements, then got a little lost. But now we’re almost there. Since February 1 in San Francisco they have authorized the use of robotaxis, unmanned taxis at a maximum speed of 48 kilometers per hour. These are those produced by Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motor and Honda.
The car does not (yet) drive itself
by Riccardo Luna
Obviously, in a first phase it was decided that the races are free, because it is an experimentation; except those at night, between ten in the evening and six in the morning. How is it going? Great I would say. But a few nights ago a police patrol ordered an unmanned taxi (and at that moment with no passengers on board) to stop. Not by chance: he had the lights off and it was evening. Safe fine.
The rebirth of Ascari, the best aid pilot in the world
by Riccardo Luna
The taxi stopped and the two agents wanted to tell the driver, as is always the case, to keep his hands clearly visible on the steering wheel but there was no one in the car. So they got out and started walking around the empty car while the passers-by stopped and commented in amusement. When the agents returned to their car to ask for instructions, the robotaxi suddenly left and then the agents started chasing him on foot. Luckily he stopped a hundred meters away and a Cruise manager later explained that the taxi wasn’t running away, but he just looked for a safer place to park. The scene was surreal yet it is a glimpse of the world to come. If there is an unmanned car, who really stops the traffic police? Who does he contest the infringement to? Who do you ask to show the documents? To the algorithm that is governing it?
We will have the answers soon. The future as always comes.