Elon Musk Shows How Teslas Will Talk To Pedestrians (cnet.com) 181
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNET: In a tweet, the Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company's vehicles will soon be able to talk to pedestrians if you choose, and he showed off a clip of the unnamed feature in action. The Model 3 passing by tells the cameraman, "Well, don't just stand there staring, hop in."
Musk didn't dish out more information on the function, but the speakers used are likely the same ones added to meet new regulations for electric cars and plug-in hybrids this year. Teslas, and all other EVs, will need to make an alert tone under 18.6 mph starting this year. What also isn't clear is how the car will actually talk. Clearly, the clip above is a prerecorded message. If drivers will actually be able to speak to pedestrians remains unknown, or perhaps Tesla will offer a library of messages. Tesla told Roadshow Musk's tweet "is the extent of what we're sharing right now, though the CEO did say Teslas will also be able to "fart in [pedestrians'] general direction."
Musk didn't dish out more information on the function, but the speakers used are likely the same ones added to meet new regulations for electric cars and plug-in hybrids this year. Teslas, and all other EVs, will need to make an alert tone under 18.6 mph starting this year. What also isn't clear is how the car will actually talk. Clearly, the clip above is a prerecorded message. If drivers will actually be able to speak to pedestrians remains unknown, or perhaps Tesla will offer a library of messages. Tesla told Roadshow Musk's tweet "is the extent of what we're sharing right now, though the CEO did say Teslas will also be able to "fart in [pedestrians'] general direction."
Alert Tones (Score:3)
Honestly any time a car surprises me by appearing without me hearing them, it isn't an electric car...
Re:Alert Tones (Score:4, Interesting)
My prius does it all the time, but admittedly, in parking lots I'm usually driving in golf cart mode (an easter egg in the operating system activated by putting the system in drive or reverse but NOT pressing down on the accelerator when you take your foot off the brake).
Re: (Score:2)
I'm usually driving in golf cart mode (an easter egg in the operating system activated by putting the system in drive or reverse but NOT pressing down on the accelerator when you take your foot off the brake).
Most cars move while idling and in gear, unless you're pressing the brake pedal. It isn't any sort of Easter egg. It is just how cars work.
Re: (Score:2)
This is precisely why I hate automatics and drive a manual. I hate it when the car just goes entirely on its own. I really with more cars with automatic transmissions had an option to behave like a manual, and I hope future electrics do as well.
Old news.. (Score:4, Funny)
Normally a Kona EV has this electronic chord sounding thing, where the pitch varies with your speed. Some people object to the sound - it doesn't bother me that much however. But there is someone modified the thing to sound like a diesel locomotive.
Having a voice would just be weird.
Personally I would like to see a Jetsons option. Which got me wondering how they made the sound for the old cartoon, and the story I found was that they used a pop gun in a cider jug to make the basic noise which they then repeated.
Re:Old news.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Musk said they will offer customizable vehicle sounds but I hope that gets banned first. The last thing we want is vehicles all making different, stupid and annoying sounds. It would be dangerous too if someone selected a noise that people are likely to ignore, such as a car alarm or birds tweeting.
Presumably this speech tech is just for the robotaxi service or something.
Re:Old news.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Presumably this speech tech is just for the robotaxi service or something.
I believe that part of the reasons for this is to alert the blind pedestrians who might not hear an electric car that's going slow enough. The ability to hail riders as you approach is just a novel way to use the same hardware.
Re: (Score:2)
Doesn't really help blind pedestrians - they're much more in danger from cyclists if they cross anywhere other than traffic lights. And also if they cross at traffic lights.
Re: (Score:3)
I hope there's an option to yell, "You have a bike lane three feet to your right, get your ass out car lane until you can go 35 mph!"
Re: (Score:3)
Don't forget "Hey, moron, put down your phone and drive. The light has been green for twenty seconds."
Re: (Score:3)
Re: Old news.. (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, it's not Musk Industries, it's Tesla Inc....
Re: Old news.. (Score:4, Funny)
Actually, it's not Musk Industries, it's Tesla Inc....
Tesla Incorporated Three Thousand? That acronym is so much better.
Re: (Score:3)
Tesla Incorporated Twenty Twenty would be more accurate.
Re: (Score:3)
Tesla Incorporated Twenty Twenty would be more accurate.
Indeed.
So then...
Tesla Incorporated Twenty Twenty (Model) S
Tesla Incorporated Twenty Twenty (Model) Y
and
Tesla Incorporated Twenty Twenty (Model) 3
Will they have a turbo mode and ejection seats?
Re: (Score:3)
I guess this is why their cars are S3XY?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Need to go with some cliche vroom vroom engine rumble SFX voiced by Michael Winslow.
This *is* a game changer! (Score:2)
Ever since the first time a boy talked his dad out of the keys for the evening over a century ago, guys have been using cars to try to impress and get girls.
In the past, they had ro rely on stying, noise, shine, and chrome.
But this, wow! Now he can play cool while *the car* talks to her.
"Hey, there. My driver is a catch!"
"Hop in, and we won't tell him where we're going."
Or even, "hey, hop in, and at the next stop, we ditch this loser!" :)
And a new generation in custom AI, in which the car is trained to fi
Stealth Vehicles (Score:3)
Maybe they should try to get Rolls Royce to make their vehicles make noise, too.
I'd like to see them just TRY to get RR to add such a stupid feature to their cars.
Not going to happen, and RR are Famous for being silent running cars.
Quiet running is not the problem. Stupid pedestrians is.
Look up from your phone, people! Don't wear noise cancelling headphones in public, either! That defeats the purpose of the "hybrid hello" completely anyway, so why bother?
Re: (Score:3)
Rolls Royce is famous for being silent on the inside. Their cars still make enough noise with weighing three tons and all.
Re: (Score:2)
Rolls Royce is famous for being silent on the inside. Their cars still make enough noise with weighing three tons and all.
I hate to break it to you: they're quiet on the outside too, despite weighing three tons.
Re: (Score:2)
Depends on the tires.
Re: (Score:2)
1) The United States has over 327m people. Only about 30m are from the Yankee region.
2) Rolls Royce sells twice as many cars in the US as in the UK.
Most Rolls Royce vehicles clearly have tires, and very very few of those are owned by Yanks.
Re: (Score:3)
and RR are Famous for being silent running cars.
They're also famour for being driven by massive wankers. At least driven by the drivers of massive wankers anyway.
Re:Stealth Vehicles (Score:5, Insightful)
Quiet running is not the problem. Stupid pedestrians is.
Look up from your phone, people! Don't wear noise cancelling headphones in public, either! That defeats the purpose of the "hybrid hello" completely anyway, so why bother?
I guess you are unaware of sight impaired people who rely on sound
Re: (Score:2)
I guess you're unaware that they make up 0.8% of the population of people under 20, it creeps up to 2% by age 64, and tops out at 2.4% of the population across all age groups.
When a whopping 1%-2% of the population wandering around town actually has a disability, and 80% or more of the population is disabling themselves on purpose, I think it's fair to shit on those 80% of people.
Re: (Score:2)
Go back to reddit, little kid. You're not meeting the /. standard for trolling. You need a lot more practice, and likely a lot more intelligence.
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe they should try to get Rolls Royce to make their vehicles make noise, too.
I'd like to see them just TRY to get RR to add such a stupid feature to their cars.
Not going to happen, and RR are Famous for being silent running cars.
Quiet running is not the problem. Stupid pedestrians is. Look up from your phone, people! Don't wear noise cancelling headphones in public, either! That defeats the purpose of the "hybrid hello" completely anyway, so why bother?
Think about blind people and try this again... They are DEPENDANT on the sound of a vehicle as it approaches because they cannot see it, even if they tried. This bit of hardware is designed to meet the regulatory requirements for electric vehicles to make some kind of noise so blind people about can hear them.
RR are NOT silent, they are indeed low noise, but they are far from silent when running.
Re: (Score:2)
You've clearly never been in proximity to an EV or hybrid. At low speeds they make LESS NOISE THAN A PERSON WALKING. You don't have 6 eyes in your head, to see in every direction. Sound is critical to all of us, not just the visually impaired. Sooner or later you'll be walking through a parking lot, and someone is going to suddenly start their EV, and back
Re: (Score:2)
Rolls Royce were famous for being silent up until the 1980's. Other cars have gotten so much quieter since then, I don't think Rolls Royce really stands out for its silence any more, unless I suppose you limit the comparison to other twin turbo V12 engined cars.
Re:Stealth Vehicles (Score:4)
I can't tell you how many times while bike riding – mtn bike, in the woods – I've shouted to warn someone that I'm coming up behind them and had them not hear me because they're wearing headphones and have tunes blasting.
Do you shout at the trees to get out of your way as well?
Re: (Score:2)
Trees already know how to make like a tree and get out of the way. It's in their biology. Because they're plants.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Speaking as a life-long cyclist, I've always found it easier to go around the trees than through them.
Re: (Score:2)
When you're on a path, people tend to hog the path and yes, the polite thing is to warn them as you come up so they can move over.
You don't just turn off the path and go around on rough terrain.
Re:Stealth Vehicles (Score:5, Interesting)
I can't imagine being so out of touch with the world around you that you've got shit pumping in to your ears when you're in the woods. Of all the places to turn off the garbage coming from your phone, I would think it would be in the woods.
Re: (Score:2)
Hope you have good insurance if you do this on the regular. One bad move by the pedestrian and you have a hell of a liability on your hands.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I see you have much the same attitude about hikers that I take with bicyclists who are on, or near, the roadway when I'm driving my 3,000 pound car. I sometimes feel guilty about this, but I know that some of these bikers hogging my road are jerks like you and turnabout is fair play.
Re: (Score:3)
No. You slow the fuck down and avoid an accident.
What are you, five?
Re: (Score:2)
If they're going to be oblivious to their surroundings, that's not my problem.
It's not a problem for them either until some asshole decides he needs to "blow past them closely".
I can't imagine being so out of touch with the world around you that you've got shit pumping in to your ears when you're in the woods. Of all the places to turn off the garbage coming from your phone, I would think it would be in the woods.
Sucks for you to have a phone that only outputs garbage, but some people like to listen to podcasts, or audio books while walking. Seems like the woods would be a perfectly safe place to do that specifically because there are no cars there.
But hey, fuck them for not wanting to listen to the wind blowing, when they are in the woods!
Re: (Score:2)
If I see an oncoming biker who is being an asshole, I won't yield the right of way and they don't dare hit me perhaps because they know their umbrella policy probably isn't big enough. There's lots of poison oak just off the trail - I'm amused when they end up in it. However, I'll yield right of way to responsible bikers (even though I am not obligated to).
When you set your feet and square your shoulders, be ready to toss the handlebars to the side and you can send them off the trail without them hitting more than your hands. And it was still their crashing into you that bounced them off the trail. :)
They usually shut the fuck up when my eyebrows protrude into caveman stance. I call that the Privilege of the Neandertal.
But bikes aren't even allowed on the trails I use.
Re: (Score:2)
but will it taunt them a second time? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Silly (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Nah, that will make it only look more toy. Kill people MORE to make it look not-toy. When are we getting Carmageddon mode?
Re: (Score:2)
When are we getting Carmageddon mode?
What does that do, send false congestion reports to clear out the road ahead of you?
Fix "autopilot" first (Score:4, Insightful)
I would rather he fixed the so-called autopilot first.
Re: (Score:2)
I would rather he fixed the so-called autopilot first.
Try The Mythical Man Month [amzn.to].
Taking people from Team B and adding them to Team A, when they are only experts on Project B, *extends* the time it takes for Project A to be completed.
There is no "rather" in these situations - multiple teams working in parallel on multiple projects is the effective company structure. That Team A hasn't perfected AI vision won't be helped by stopping work on systems that help ameliorate the risks involved with that non-perfec
Simple message (Score:3)
"Hey fuckwad! Get your head out of your phone and look where you're walking!"
That should get people's attention.
Re: (Score:3)
"Hey fuckwad! Get your head out of your phone and look where you're walking!"
That should get people's attention.
"Hey fuckwad! Get your head out of your phone and look where you're driving!"
That might also be useful...
Re:Simple message (Score:5, Insightful)
"Hey fuckwad! Get your head out of your phone and look where you're walking!"
That should get people's attention.
Sure, unless they are BLIND... Then you just insulted them because they don't have their head in their phone and cannot see where they are walking.
Re: (Score:2)
One would presume a blind person would not randomly walk out into the street specifically because they are blind.
Unlike the majority of people who are not visually impaired and still walk into traffic.
Re: (Score:2)
sure, because blind people tend to hold up their phones in front of their faces while crossing streets, even though they can't see them?
Uhh . . .
No coconut shell horse? (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
I hope that there's a trombone sound option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Looking at ways we can get this crap banned. The most promising option is getting stupid car ringtones declared a noise problem, so people either have to choose between having a sensible sound or not driving from about 8 PM to 8 AM.
Re: (Score:2)
Why do you even care in the first place. Car noises are already aggravating and changing them to some other sound isn’t going to make it any worse unless you switch to sounds (think nails on a chalkboard) that induce a physical response in more people. But if some idiot wants to change his horn to play La Cucaracha, I don’t care.
Re: (Score:2)
Here it's not just volume level it's also the type of noise. If you could argue that it was annoying you might be able to get it banned.
Safety is another possible angle. If it sounds like something it's not then it could be dangerous.
Re: (Score:2)
Just give it time. We're in a transition period, so it's going to be rough for a decade or two.
The amount of noise that our transportation machines have been making has increasingly gone down over the last few decades. (If you have ever heard an old steam locomotive, or large prop plane, damn.) As we shift to electric, the world is going to get a lot quieter. At the moment, we've got very quiet BEVs being drowned out by all the rest of the traffic noise. As that all goes away, so too will the need to make e
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Surprised to see speaking to the pedestrians winning.
Surprised? Can you think of anything better than the Gilbert Gottfriend sound pack? People would pay an extra $500 for that.
Once the marketing knobs get ahold of this (Score:2)
You know they'll use this as an excuse for pretend work in 'branding' the sound. And soon they'll try to figure out how to work marketing messages into the noise.
The last thing we want is to have to remember different kinds of sounds for different kinds of vehicles. This will end up wasting a lot of time, spittle and ink and a general whirring sound will be settled upon.
Re: (Score:2)
except that was a great idea! (Score:2)
I loved the Dominoes scooter! As long as it wasn't too loud it sounded like an engine, was funny and seriously, I don't think it would be worse than the century of motor noise that people got used to (still annoying but you filter it out.) Having it sound familiar helps.
Each non-marketing related sound will be annoying and distracting as are all these stupid phone sounds. At least most people don't seem to customize sounds anymore; i do hear an occasional custom ringtone. texting tones seem to not be cust
I can think of a few things I'd like it to say (Score:2)
"Come with me if you want to live!"
A constant loop of Ludacris (The Dirty Mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
A Train Horn, when anything is detected in the vehicle path
Re: (Score:2)
"Come with me if you want to live!"
I like this one. I mainly was thinking I wanted it to scream obscenities at crappy drivers or the people that inch through the crosswalk when they have a "don't walk" sign while staring at their phone.
This Won't Last (Score:2)
Honestly office, it wasn't me calling over that [drug dealer, prostitute, political lobbiest] and rolling down the window, it was my car!
How much extra are they going to charge for the Catcalling Construction Worker sound pack?
Unreal voices returns (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
If I hit someone under 18mph like they say, can I make it yell "Boom, headshot", or "mmmm multilkill". or the golf version " FORE" ? lol
GTA voices would be more appropriate. Kiiiiiiillllllll frenzyyyyyyy!
I see one itsy-bitsy problem (Score:2)
What assumptions will the system make about which language the pedestrian speaks? Any sort of ethnicity module in the AI will be flamed as being racist, and will be grossly inexact at best.
We have already solved this problem visually. Highway signage that once just had phrases Blake MERGING TRAFFIC have been replaced by a symbol. Is there a verbal equivalent to this?
"Watch the Tram Car, Please" (Score:2)
Anyone who has been to Wildwood, New Jersey has experienced the Tram Cars on the boardwalk telling pedestrians to step out of the way. They need to hire the same woman to record standard messages for cars now.
where is the kitt lights mod kit? (Score:2)
where is the kitt lights mod kit?
Very Quiet Operation (Score:2)
When I'm driving in a residential area, pedestrians cannot hear me driving 1-15mph unless there is grit/debris on the road to add to the tire noise.
Of course, any noise added to speak with pedestrians would need to be moderated because each of us has an inner 13 year old that would probably make it say something worse than a cursing keychain from Spencer's.
Re: (Score:2)
I see (Score:2)
"Teslas will also be able to "fart in [pedestrians'] general direction."
So it will also say: "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries" I guess.
"No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time"
"I'll let you cross the road if you can tell me the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow."
Re: (Score:2)
Great. (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Seriously, we probably NEED a government imposed default sound at minimum, if not just simply required. Give a grant to some school to study what is BEST for blind people to detect direction and speed of multiple cars. How about something that is also easy to filter out?
I sure do not want to replace the constant rumbling of engines which at least annoy in the same way you can adjust to with tons of random ringtones all the time.
Won't work in Seattle (Score:2)
Opiate induced deafness is a real problem with the homeless here.
Nice excuse (Score:2)
"Really, officer. I didn't pick up the prostitute. My car did."
Hollywood (Score:2)
What will Hollywood do with this? We're all used to squealing tires of a car driving on a dirt road for some reason. What will the movies do when the only sound a car makes is an advertisement?
Re: (Score:2)
What will the movies do when the only sound a car makes is an advertisement?
Demand money from the advertiser.
I know what song I'm gonna play on those speakers (Score:2)
https://youtu.be/8iOpUdsMeqM?t... [youtu.be]
Re:Hi there! Feeling cold? (Score:4, Funny)
"This one's mental. He's defective. He wants everyone to ride around inside him all of the time. He's obsessed with it. And if you don't want to ride, like, twenty-four hours a day, he throws a major wobbler. That's what caused the accident in the first place."
Kryten: "What accident?"
"The accident involving me, the Tesla, the car crusher and a fourteen-pound lump hammer. And another thing is, he always says 'Well, don't just stand there staring, hop in.' Drives you spare."
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
40-6-144
Except as provided by resolution or ordinance of a local government for sidewalks within the jurisdiction of such local government authorizing the operation of bicycles on sidewalks by persons 12 years of age or younger, no person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized driveway.
40-6-294.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'hazards to safe cycling' includes, but shall not be limited to, surface debris, rough pavement, drain grates which are parallel to the side of the roadway, parked or stopped vehicles, potentially opening car doors, or any other objects which threaten the safety of a person operating a bicycle.
(b) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when:
(1) Turning left;
(2) Avoiding hazards to safe cycling;
(3) The lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle;
(4) Traveling at the same speed as traffic;
In Georgia there is a question on the drivers license test about the above law 40-6-144 that most people taking the test fail.
You might want to learn the law in your state before you go running bicycle riders off the road.
Re:WIll pay extra for ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Here is Georgia law.. Look up the law in your state.
(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, or when a special event permit issued by a local governing authority permits riding more than two abreast.
All bicycle riders, even two abreast are BY LAW allowed to take the entire lane. You, the driver of another VEHICLE, are required to pass when safe to pass and by the safe distance required BY LAW.
40-6-56.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'safe distance' means not less than three feet.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, when feasible, the operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between such vehicle and the bicycle and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.
No bicycle rider has to yield to your ENTITLED commute in any state in the USA. That is the LAW and I'm sorry you do not like it.
Re: (Score:3)
Some people choose to commute to work on a bicycle. You are not the only one commuting to work.
However, you are the only one that cannot move at the speed limit, slowing down the rest of the traffic.
Re: (Score:2)
However, you are the only one that cannot move at the speed limit, slowing down the rest of the traffic.
During rush hour traffic, nobody else is also moving at the speed limit. Many times I am the fastest one on the street.
Re: (Score:2)
To work [garmin.com]
13 miles, 51 minutes. Clearly, you have time to kill. Now imagine what would happen if all transportation slowed down to that speed.
Re: (Score:2)
All states in the USA require bicycle riders to ride on the street....Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when (3) The lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle;
In Georgia there is a question on the drivers license test about the above law 40-6-144 that most people taking the test fail. You might want to learn the law in your state before you go running bicycle riders off the road.
Perhaps you need to learn to interpret the law better. I can certainly look at every bike lane ever added to any roadway primarily designed for cars and use this exact loophole cited above to NOT use the road as a cyclist. In my opinion, every bike lane is too narrow to safely share with a smartphone addict who refuses to put the phone down. Looking at cyclist deaths, I'd challenge any prosecutor to prove me wrong.
Re: (Score:2)
I ride well above 15mph .
What about your squats? Don't neglect your power training by over-focusing on your cardio.
Re: (Score:2)
Are you able to ride a bicycle more than 1/4 of a mile without having a heart attack?
Yes, but only if I am riding one in a gym or park. Otherwise, riding one in traffic would give me a heart attack. Insofar as risky sport - I have better ways to get my adrenaline and without inconveniencing general population.
Think of people trying to ran a marathon on the highway during the rush how. This is how other people see you when you ride in traffic.
Re: (Score:2)
If you were forced to ride a bicycle on the road, you would have much more respect for bicycle riders.
Are you forced to ride the bicycle or do you choose to do so?
Re: (Score:2)
Not where bike lanes are provided. Here in the Pacific Northwest it's not uncommon to see some douchebag riding in the middle of the traffic lane while ignoring the bike lane to his right that would keep him safe and not annoy other users of the roadway. Not surprisingly it's almost always the guys with the $7000 bike, never the guy on the ten year old Schwinn.
Re: (Score:2)
Idiot bicycle riders are everywhere. They give riders like me that obey every bicycle law a bad name. You can't fix stupid bicycle riders.
Yes you can. You start ticketing this behaviour and implement minimum road speed everywhere where there is also a dedicated bike lane. Otherwise various assholes will keep citing "The lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle;" as a justification for their misbehavior.