Roborace - The Worlds first driver-less motorsports
Discussion
Driverless racing cars only have a purpose if they can do things that a car with a human driver can't.
For example, loop the loops, jumping wide gaps, massive crashes being encouraged etc.
Just being able to drive around a traditional track more consistently isn't entertaining after the first time it has been done.
For example, loop the loops, jumping wide gaps, massive crashes being encouraged etc.
Just being able to drive around a traditional track more consistently isn't entertaining after the first time it has been done.
I don’t see any problem with it. People will race anything. This is purely a race between engineers. As for the comment about putting them on rails, that is a bit ridiculous. It’s about the challenge. Why do you guys feel so threatened? Are you worried that it will replace traditional motorsport with a driver? I’m not; there’s a place for both. This is also a very good way to drive robotics technology.
I don't see an issue with it whatsoever. If the intention was to replace the drivers in all forms of motorsport then I would have a problem but it's not.
It's a way for the engineers (hardware and software) and, eventually, designers to take centre stage rather than all the plaudits being handed out to the driver who, in reality, does a tiny amount of the overall work.
If they were on rails that wouldn't be racing now would it? The idea is to have them battling in real race situations which will directly translate to collision avoidance routines for self driving road cars and, as this clip shows, they will need to develop routines for low grip situations as well!
It's a way for the engineers (hardware and software) and, eventually, designers to take centre stage rather than all the plaudits being handed out to the driver who, in reality, does a tiny amount of the overall work.
If they were on rails that wouldn't be racing now would it? The idea is to have them battling in real race situations which will directly translate to collision avoidance routines for self driving road cars and, as this clip shows, they will need to develop routines for low grip situations as well!
My point is it's not motorsport...It might be clever but it's dull..I couldn't give a monkey's if you could make it lap the Nurburgring in 2 mins flat or travel at the speed of light. If there's no danger, no g force, no judgement being made by a driver who will face consequences if he gets it wrong etc etc then it's not racing in any traditional sense..
Is this not just RC racing? If so it's been going on for years, ( and has never drawn big crowds ). Good fun for those that are into it and each to their own but for me, ( and i suspect the majority of petrol heads ), it's neither an exciting spectacle or any replacement for the thrill of driving..
Is this not just RC racing? If so it's been going on for years, ( and has never drawn big crowds ). Good fun for those that are into it and each to their own but for me, ( and i suspect the majority of petrol heads ), it's neither an exciting spectacle or any replacement for the thrill of driving..
I don’t see anywhere it saying you have to watch it? I find tennis incredibly boring to watch, but I don’t go on forums getting worked up about its existence.
And you’re right, it’s the next evolution of RC racing.
Finally, something doesn’t have to pull huge crowds for it to be allowed. Like I said, people will race anything. Hell... I remember my mates and I trying to race our mobile phones across a table when the vibrate feature was first a thing. I’m sure most people would think that pretty stupid, but I don’t remember anyone getting upset about it.
And you’re right, it’s the next evolution of RC racing.
Finally, something doesn’t have to pull huge crowds for it to be allowed. Like I said, people will race anything. Hell... I remember my mates and I trying to race our mobile phones across a table when the vibrate feature was first a thing. I’m sure most people would think that pretty stupid, but I don’t remember anyone getting upset about it.
You're right I don't need to watch it and I shouldn't get worked up about it.. Going forwards I won't it's just a knee jerk reaction to seeing it as a news item on this site...It's my opinion and you don't need to share it but to my mind it's just another step in the wrong direction for motorsport.
There are plenty of threads on here discussing how F1 etc are not what they used to be because of tech...There are also plenty of threads supporting the view that analogue cars are more involving to drive and that today's supercars are less exciting than yesterday's.. If that's the case let's not sleepwalk into a whole other level of sanitised dullness..
If driverless cars are part of the future of transport then so be it, ( another sad event ), but let's not use that veneer as reason for roborace..
I agree it may be highly interesting to those that are into that sort of thing and I certainly don't have issue with people enjoying it but just think it's quite seperate to other forms of motorsport and hope that event organisers don't get sucked into thinking its interesting for punters and start adding it to too many race/event schedules.. , ( or featuring it too frequently in performance car magazines or websites ! )
The only benefit it bought to Goodwood a couple of years back was a good opportunity to nip to the loo without missing anything..!
There are plenty of threads on here discussing how F1 etc are not what they used to be because of tech...There are also plenty of threads supporting the view that analogue cars are more involving to drive and that today's supercars are less exciting than yesterday's.. If that's the case let's not sleepwalk into a whole other level of sanitised dullness..
If driverless cars are part of the future of transport then so be it, ( another sad event ), but let's not use that veneer as reason for roborace..
I agree it may be highly interesting to those that are into that sort of thing and I certainly don't have issue with people enjoying it but just think it's quite seperate to other forms of motorsport and hope that event organisers don't get sucked into thinking its interesting for punters and start adding it to too many race/event schedules.. , ( or featuring it too frequently in performance car magazines or websites ! )
The only benefit it bought to Goodwood a couple of years back was a good opportunity to nip to the loo without missing anything..!
Nampahc Niloc said:
I don’t see anywhere it saying you have to watch it? I find tennis incredibly boring to watch, but I don’t go on forums getting worked up about its existence.
And you’re right, it’s the next evolution of RC racing.
Finally, something doesn’t have to pull huge crowds for it to be allowed. Like I said, people will race anything. Hell... I remember my mates and I trying to race our mobile phones across a table when the vibrate feature was first a thing. I’m sure most people would think that pretty stupid, but I don’t remember anyone getting upset about it.
And you’re right, it’s the next evolution of RC racing.
Finally, something doesn’t have to pull huge crowds for it to be allowed. Like I said, people will race anything. Hell... I remember my mates and I trying to race our mobile phones across a table when the vibrate feature was first a thing. I’m sure most people would think that pretty stupid, but I don’t remember anyone getting upset about it.
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