Title: Self-parking cars ...
Post by: longmanshort on 02 August, 2006, 10:57:56 PM
Post by: longmanshort on 02 August, 2006, 10:57:56 PM
Vehicles that are able to parallel park themselves while drivers sit and relax behind the wheel are coming to the United States, according to a Local 6 News report. New Toyota hybrid cars are now available in Britain with a $700 "parking assist" option. Local 6 news showed video of a driver sitting and allowing the car's steering wheel to turn on its own as it pulled into a tight parking spot on a London street. The reporter never touched the wheel as the car parked itself. With the self-parking assistant, the driver is only responsible for controlling the speed of the car, via the brake pedal. Toyota says expect to see the technology pop up in the U.S. soon, Local 6 anchor Jacqueline London said.
Now, I know the Yanks aren't exactly quick on the ol' draw, but surely this is a piss-take?!
Title: Re: Self-parking cars ......
Post by: paulvonscott on 02 August, 2006, 11:03:37 PM
Post by: paulvonscott on 02 August, 2006, 11:03:37 PM
I can't say if this is a pisstake, but similar things have been mentioned a bit in the media over the last few years.
I'd get it if I could, I'm crap at parallel parking.
I'd get it if I could, I'm crap at parallel parking.
Title: Re: Self-parking cars .........
Post by: Woolly on 02 August, 2006, 11:25:33 PM
Post by: Woolly on 02 August, 2006, 11:25:33 PM
Must be a wind up.
Imagine the insurance furore if it went and smashed into your neighbour's brand new Merc!
Who'd pay for it? You or the car manufacturers?
-Wul (not in the least bit annoyed that he only ever failed his driving test due to poor reverse parking...mutter...grumble..)
Imagine the insurance furore if it went and smashed into your neighbour's brand new Merc!
Who'd pay for it? You or the car manufacturers?
-Wul (not in the least bit annoyed that he only ever failed his driving test due to poor reverse parking...mutter...grumble..)
Title: Re: Self-parking cars ............
Post by: Buttonman on 02 August, 2006, 11:41:50 PM
Post by: Buttonman on 02 August, 2006, 11:41:50 PM
I passed on the third attempt when the kind examiner said, after my reverse park, 'I guess I could walk to the pavement from here'.
The advice I got was to line up to the car in front of the space you area aiming for and reverse. When you (the driver) are alligned with the wing mirror of the car move the steering wheel one full turn towards the pavement and undo it when you are past his bumper.Then turn the wheel the opposite way to straighten up.
Easy once you've done it wrong 500 times. I worked in an office for 17 years and only did a dump there twice, once after a night on the pop and once before my driving test. Nothing scarier in the world!
The advice I got was to line up to the car in front of the space you area aiming for and reverse. When you (the driver) are alligned with the wing mirror of the car move the steering wheel one full turn towards the pavement and undo it when you are past his bumper.Then turn the wheel the opposite way to straighten up.
Easy once you've done it wrong 500 times. I worked in an office for 17 years and only did a dump there twice, once after a night on the pop and once before my driving test. Nothing scarier in the world!
Title: Re: Self-parking cars ...............
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 03 August, 2006, 10:15:41 PM
Post by: ThryllSeekyr on 03 August, 2006, 10:15:41 PM
I hope there is a manual overide.
Title: Re: Self-parking cars ...............
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 04 August, 2006, 03:47:01 AM
Post by: The Enigmatic Dr X on 04 August, 2006, 03:47:01 AM
When I sat my first test my legs were shaking as I had palsy. Made clutch control... difficult.