Driveless cars (shuttles) coming to WDW.

[Accident]

Walt Disney World in Florida appears poised to launch the highest-profile commercial deployment of driverless passenger vehicles to date, testing a fleet of driverless shuttles that could cart passengers through parking lots and around its theme parks.

According to sources with direct knowledge of Disney’s plans, the company is in late-stage negotiation with at least two manufacturers of autonomous shuttles – Local Motors, based in Phoenix, and Navya, based in Paris. It’s unclear whether contracts would go to both or just one of the companies.

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-disney-shuttles-20170428-story.html

 

[mshanson3121]

I despise these new cars. I don't want to see them anywhere - including Disney.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I despise these new cars. I don't want to see them anywhere - including Disney.

That's a strong reaction. May I ask why? I'm not sure the concept is all that different from driverless trains which have existed for years.

 

[KYMickey]

That's a strong reaction. May I ask why? I'm not sure the concept is all that different from driverless trains which have existed for years.

From my point of view there's a huge difference between the 2. Trains are confined to a fixed route that is basically clear of all the traffic, at least your traffic is well monitored and controlled. Automobiles can go anywhere are not confined to a fixed route. There also are many other vehicles driven by people who don't know what the driverless cars going to do. I wouldn't mind being on a driverless train but I certainly wouldn't want to be in a driverless car until they are well prove.

 

[Westcoastwild]

From my point of view there's a huge difference between the 2. Trains are confined to a fixed route that is basically clear of all the traffic, at least your traffic is well monitored and controlled. Automobiles can go anywhere are not confined to a fixed route. There also are many other vehicles driven by people who don't know what the driverless cars going to do. I wouldn't mind being on a driverless train but I certainly wouldn't want to be in a driverless car until they are well prove.

Well, yes, but "mistrust" is not really the same as "despise".

 

[writerguyfl]

The devil is in the details.

I agree with others in that I won't get in a driverless car on public streets. Depending on implementation, I might consider one that replaces the Disney parking lot tram. That's essentially a closed course with very little cross traffic.

As noted in the article, Disney would start this by using Cast Members as guinea pigs. Hourly Cast Members working at Magic Kingdom park in a remote lot and take shuttle buses (driving by people) to the "tunnel" entrance. From there, they must walk to their work location. That's an ideal place to test these driverless vehicles.

 

[cjbcam]

I'm nervous of things like this.

 

[tcufrog]

How many drivers would lose their jobs?

 

[Westcoastwild]

How many drivers would lose their jobs?

I feel like for every driver who would lose their job over this, they'll be employing 3 more people just to keep the robots running.

I'd mostly be worried about reliability.

 

[dreiwhit]

I don't trust them either and won't use them. I remember reading that the biggest problem with Google self driving cars is that it couldn't respond when other drivers didn't obey the rules of the road.

 

[disneynutz]

Get used to it, they will come and they will also be in your neighborhood at home. Cars are currently being tested in Arizona.

Bill

 

[HuskieJohn]

My big hesitation with using self driving cars is that they are programed to value life outside of the vehicle more than the life inside.

As long as the people riding in them know the risk I do not mind other people using them.

 

[mshanson3121]

I don't trust them either and won't use them. I remember reading that the biggest problem with Google self driving cars is that it couldn't respond when other drivers didn't obey the rules of the road.

This as well as multiple other issues including moral dilemma, mechanical failure and the possibility of hackers.

 

[disneynutz]

What's next, motor cars that take the place of horses or people being able to enter a container and it leaves the ground and moves through the air?

Bill

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sort of surprised Disney's team of lawyers would be ok with this. Because even if they are sure of the tech involved, I'm not sure how you can ever account for the tourist traffic driving around town.

 

[danikoski]

From my point of view there's a huge difference between the 2. Trains are confined to a fixed route that is basically clear of all the traffic, at least your traffic is well monitored and controlled. Automobiles can go anywhere are not confined to a fixed route. There also are many other vehicles driven by people who don't know what the driverless cars going to do. I wouldn't mind being on a driverless train but I certainly wouldn't want to be in a driverless car until they are well prove.

These will be in a confined area. In the article it discusses that these types of shuttles work in a corral on well known/documented paths that are part of their programming. They are like trackless driverless trains. Not actually that different, except for the track. These are not the vehicles that Google is working on that would be normal vehicles that drive themselves.

 

[Irish_Mike]

I would be very surprised to see these anywhere outside of parking lots and some of the Disney resorts (AKL-KV, CBR, CSR), places where Disney can ensure safety a bit easier than any of the major roadways on property.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm looking forward to this application of new technology. Its so in keeping with what Walt planned for Epcot.

 

[Roxyfire]

I'm looking forward to this application of new technology. Its so in keeping with what Walt planned for Epcot.

Agreed, there's many places where a shuttle is running the same stretch of road over and over again. I always wonder about the driver in that case. There's a few more questions to answer but I'm looking forward to the days where there are only autonomous vehicles and people driving is legislated away or highly restricted.

 

[Westcoastwild]

What's next, motor cars that take the place of horses or people being able to enter a container and it leaves the ground and moves through the air?

Bill

Lol. Exactly. Every time I see something like this I think of the people who objected to the automobile because put horses out of work or the people who objected to airplanes because ocean liners and trains were more civilized.

There's a lot of stuff that could go wrong of course, but I'd trust a machine more than I'd trust probably 50% of the people I share the road with.