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by jedberg 3218 days ago
> We treated test pilots with the highest regard because they were separated from the technology/machinery itself. There was no personal stake in it for them other than making it out alive and exposing issues with the systems being tested.

I think this is an extremely salient and important point, and I've never thought of it before!

Test pilots only care about a good product, not success or failure of the product. That's not the case anymore.

Maybe this would be a good time to propose a new "test pilot core" for cars, made up of perhaps some elite drivers who don't work for any car company.

Or heck, maybe the army wants to test self driving cars!
2 comments
unityByFreedom 3217 days ago
> Maybe this would be a good time to propose a new "test pilot core" for cars, made up of perhaps some elite drivers who don't work for any car company.

Yes, having more neutral testing programs like CA's standardized testing would be nice, particularly if the tests were mandatory for all manufacturers.

I'm surprised there isn't a national testing system in place for that, but I guess it is our system to leave most control to the states.

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dkonofalski 3218 days ago
Exactly. I would love to see a "test pilot core" but that's never going to happen as long as the major players involved in these technologies are companies that are looking to make the most profit possible. A "test pilot" that has access to all the different self-driving programs is a prime point of weakness for any kind of confidentiality or security that might be in place for these programs.
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unityByFreedom 3214 days ago
> I would love to see a "test pilot core" but that's never going to happen as long as the major players involved in these technologies are companies that are looking to make the most profit possible

Wouldn't top companies lobby for a standard when they can meet it and other companies can't? Doesn't this happen in every industry, e.g. food and drug, aerospace, manufacturing, all the time?

> A "test pilot" that has access to all the different self-driving programs is a prime point of weakness for any kind of confidentiality or security that might be in place for these programs.

How do you propose evaluating them, then? Just use people as guinea pigs and see which system causes the fewest accidents? Do you think people will elect politicians who completely ignore public safety to satisfy the whims of corporations?

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