Fail: The journey in a self-driving car
You can drive a self-driving car in a car park in Las Vegas. Theoretically at least. Because the test drive is an unmitigated disaster.
In the future, cars will fly and manage without pilots or drivers, if they remain on the ground. Flying vehicles are still a little further away, but at CES 2019 in Las Vegas, you can already take a self-driving car for a spin.
A joyride is a bit of an exaggeration, however, as travelling in the Aurrigo PodZero should be relaxing, allow for casual conversations and bring a better quality of life.
Instead, video producer Stephanie Tresch and I found out why certain things prefer to be shown a little longer than a prototype. That's why the video above is definitely worth watching, even if you're only here for the text.
"Hello, Watson!"
The Aurrigo PodZero is the product of four companies. Put simply, the situation surrounding the roughly man-sized mobile base looks something like this:
- Aurrigo supplies the hardware for the vehicle
- IBM provides the intelligent control of the vehicle with the artificial intelligence "Watson"
- The rideshare service Via provides the connection to passengers via an app
- A consulting firm that has brought all three companies together
In practice, it looks like this: In one of the gigantic car parks near the Las Vegas Convention Center, the four companies have set up a small route and interested parties are allowed to squat in the vehicle, talk to Watson and drive around so bitzli. The route leads via New York, to London and on to Las Vegas. Everywhere Watson is supposed to tell you something about the area and know the weather forecast.
The journey is not supposed to be particularly fast, however, as the PodZero is intended as a vehicle at airports or in city centres. But the technology, as video producer Stephanie Tresch and I are assured in the tent in front of the course, is physically scalable. Self-driving buses and more powerful engines are only a question of the design, not the underlying technology.
We fill out a form assuming all liability for any accidents and probably death itself. PodZero, still a prototype, is not supposed to blow up, but it is not one hundred per cent impossible.
We get in the car. Sitting opposite us is a young Australian with a computer, two screens and an Xbox controller. He is the man who is to act as tech support.
He'll have a lot to do in a moment.
With the command "Hello Watson, take us to New York" we are to drive to the first post.
"Hello Watson, take us to New York," I say.
The PodZero comes to a halt.
The relaxed shouting at vehicles
No matter how often we repeat the command, speak loudly or quietly, Watson and PodZero remain stationary.
"Hello Watson, reset to home," says the Australian after Watson has uttered some rubbish.
Watson does nothing.
The Australian presses the Xbox controller. Watson still does nothing.
"Maybe it's the accent. Watson sometimes doesn't understand English and Australians very well," he says.
We have to get out of the car briefly, the Australian quickly restarts the vehicle. If we had a plane to catch, we'd be nervous right now. But we let the Sin City desert sun shine on our faces and wait briefly. However, the fact that PodZero will soon be undergoing major testing at London's Heathrow Airport is a little worrying. Let's hope no one misses their flight because the little trolley doesn't want to and has to be restarted.
Las Vegas is important to Watson
We finally drive to the post that the inventors have designated as "New York". The vehicle accelerates smoothly. Just like a machine would accelerate. Mechanically, smoothly and without any jolts. Somehow it feels unnatural, but not unpleasant. The electric motor only hums slightly.
In "New York" then I should ask for the weather report.
"Hello Watson, what's the weather?"
Watson brings up the weather report for Las Vegas. It's 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Almost 14 degrees Celsius.
"Hello Watson, what's the weather in New York?"
Watson brings you the weather report for Las Vegas. Again. Except that it's now 54 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 57, which is 12 degrees Celsius.
"Hello Watson, what's the weather in New York?"
Watson no longer understands anything. We drive on. The Australian is starting to look embarrassed.
At the second post, it's difficult to say which city we're visiting now. Watson continues to bring up the weather forecast for Las Vegas after the PodZero has focussed precisely on the screen with the city panorama.
"Hello Watson, who's the current mayor of London," I ask.
Watson tinkles to indicate that the artificial intelligence is listening, but is no longer answering. Watson sticks his neck out. The answer would be Sadiq Khan, by the way.
"Hello Watson, take us home."
The PodZero drives off. Watson says nothing more. He must be ashamed. The two journalists in the PodZero are amused, even though the temperature in the vehicle has risen quite quickly.
"Hello Watson, thanks for the ride."
All articles on CES 2019 can be found here.
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.