OT - For Car Lovers: Some Recent Exotic Spottings

Ozzie_Isaac

FarmingPhD said:

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

I don't want to trust my car to a computer, but I think I'd feel better if all the cars around me were controlled by a computer.  

You’d be surprised.  Large groups of vehicles operating under the same control algorithm occasionally get trapped in a corner of phase space that nobody wants to experience first hand.  

Oh, I have no doubt that software can't f*ck up on occasion (my car sometimes doesn't turn on the rear-view camera when I put it into Reverse, and sometimes doesn't roll my window up all the way when I close the door.  
 
I'm just saying I have more faith in software than the guy driving next to me on the Interstate, texting on his phone.  

I can explain the window issue, backup camera is a guess.

A lot of the self driving piece is handled by machine learning/AI.  Challenging piece is that the the result of what the AI does is only predictable if it has “seen” the situation before, meaning very unique situations lead to unpredictable results.  AI code is is also not something you can just jump into and debug to add a new “if” statement to handle a situation.  

Teslas approach of collecting data is pretty slick to support their self driving development.  

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on this topic, but have worked with folks that are, supporting some of their data collection and learning techniques.  Folks that are much smarter than me, but rely on folks that know the application to help them fill in all the corner conditions (or find new ones together).

I wrote the learning algorithm for the automatic transmissions used by my previous employer.  My target was very clearly defined, and yet ensuring you didn't learn into an unstable solution could be difficult.  It was a balance between quick solution, stable solution, and smooth low energy shifts. Key to success in my situation was accurate sensors (couldn't measure directly what I needed), and lots and lots and lots of data to run through simulations. Plus an amazing mentor who challenged me at every step and taught me so much.  Without his guidance, I would not have been successful.

The amount of insane things automated cars have to deal with is absolutely mind boggling.

Also, I dislike the term AI.  Machine learning heuristic algorithms, etc are more accurate terms in my mind.  Hopefully these cars are not self aware.

nolaegghead

Ozzie_Isaac said:

FarmingPhD said:

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

I don't want to trust my car to a computer, but I think I'd feel better if all the cars around me were controlled by a computer.  

You’d be surprised.  Large groups of vehicles operating under the same control algorithm occasionally get trapped in a corner of phase space that nobody wants to experience first hand.  

Oh, I have no doubt that software can't f*ck up on occasion (my car sometimes doesn't turn on the rear-view camera when I put it into Reverse, and sometimes doesn't roll my window up all the way when I close the door.  
 
I'm just saying I have more faith in software than the guy driving next to me on the Interstate, texting on his phone.  

I can explain the window issue, backup camera is a guess.

A lot of the self driving piece is handled by machine learning/AI.  Challenging piece is that the the result of what the AI does is only predictable if it has “seen” the situation before, meaning very unique situations lead to unpredictable results.  AI code is is also not something you can just jump into and debug to add a new “if” statement to handle a situation.  

Teslas approach of collecting data is pretty slick to support their self driving development.  

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on this topic, but have worked with folks that are, supporting some of their data collection and learning techniques.  Folks that are much smarter than me, but rely on folks that know the application to help them fill in all the corner conditions (or find new ones together).

I wrote the learning algorithm for the automatic transmissions used by my previous employer.  My target was very clearly defined, and yet ensuring you didn't learn into an unstable solution could be difficult.  It was a balance between quick solution, stable solution, and smooth low energy shifts. Key to success in my situation was accurate sensors (couldn't measure directly what I needed), and lots and lots and lots of data to run through simulations. Plus an amazing mentor who challenged me at every step and taught me so much.  Without his guidance, I would not have been successful.

The amount of insane things automated cars have to deal with is absolutely mind boggling.

Also, I dislike the term AI.  Machine learning heuristic algorithms, etc are more accurate terms in my mind.  Hopefully these cars are not self aware.

Self driving cars have to deal with a MASSIVE amount of data.  The challenge has been real-time filtration of that data do distill what's important.  The car's trajectory vector is fairly simple in ideal conditions.  What's the difference between moving shadow and a moving kid is hard.

nolaegghead

Interesting Tesla went with a big weighting of visible light imaging rather than LIDAR/radar/ultrasound, although it uses all of those.   5G will move things to another level - imagine all the cars on the road around you being eyes and ears of the environment you're navigating. 

Ozzie_Isaac

nolaegghead said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

FarmingPhD said:

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

I don't want to trust my car to a computer, but I think I'd feel better if all the cars around me were controlled by a computer.  

You’d be surprised.  Large groups of vehicles operating under the same control algorithm occasionally get trapped in a corner of phase space that nobody wants to experience first hand.  

Oh, I have no doubt that software can't f*ck up on occasion (my car sometimes doesn't turn on the rear-view camera when I put it into Reverse, and sometimes doesn't roll my window up all the way when I close the door.  
 
I'm just saying I have more faith in software than the guy driving next to me on the Interstate, texting on his phone.  

I can explain the window issue, backup camera is a guess.

A lot of the self driving piece is handled by machine learning/AI.  Challenging piece is that the the result of what the AI does is only predictable if it has “seen” the situation before, meaning very unique situations lead to unpredictable results.  AI code is is also not something you can just jump into and debug to add a new “if” statement to handle a situation.  

Teslas approach of collecting data is pretty slick to support their self driving development.  

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on this topic, but have worked with folks that are, supporting some of their data collection and learning techniques.  Folks that are much smarter than me, but rely on folks that know the application to help them fill in all the corner conditions (or find new ones together).

I wrote the learning algorithm for the automatic transmissions used by my previous employer.  My target was very clearly defined, and yet ensuring you didn't learn into an unstable solution could be difficult.  It was a balance between quick solution, stable solution, and smooth low energy shifts. Key to success in my situation was accurate sensors (couldn't measure directly what I needed), and lots and lots and lots of data to run through simulations. Plus an amazing mentor who challenged me at every step and taught me so much.  Without his guidance, I would not have been successful.

The amount of insane things automated cars have to deal with is absolutely mind boggling.

Also, I dislike the term AI.  Machine learning heuristic algorithms, etc are more accurate terms in my mind.  Hopefully these cars are not self aware.

Self driving cars have to deal with a MASSIVE amount of data.  The challenge has been real-time filtration of that data do distill what's important.  The car's trajectory vector is fairly simple in ideal conditions.  What's the difference between moving shadow and a moving kid is hard.

You are absolutely correct, real time data analysis from the staggering amount of inputs, and the computing power required is really impressive.  Clean, stable, and efficient code is crucial as is the ability to filter all the data down to critical decision points.  We are not talking post processing with all the time in the world, decisions need to be made immediately. I wonder what the internal bandwidth is within a Tesla cars network?

MediumRarely

lousubcap said:

Given you are in the passenger seat of the Maserati GT, you are living well in a vicarious way.  Let me say that once you arrive at the empty-nest stage in life you will again be afforded the opportunity to go forth and enjoy great things.  However, your reflexes (and a measure of common sense) will likely throttle back on the adrenaline rush you would like to achieve at speed.
Sweet looking rides right there.  You are living in a high roller neighborhood. I used to (pre-covid) visit (around three times a year) a coffee and cars event held monthly to eye-ball those sorts of vehicles.  Never have seen a Bentley station wagon before.
Gotta love the Chevrolet- impressive in the restoration that likely cost more than some of the current autos.
Nice post- around here I see lots of John Deere tractors and dually rigged trucks hauling horse trailers.  Of course, some of the trailer occupants are high dollar themselves.
Be well-

Down here in STX there are only a very few exotic cars. Z rated tires typically don't do well on these roads. Neither do suspensions. Sober drivers weave vicariously down the highways. Drunks drive straight. Pot holes reign supreme.

Be right, but drive on the left.

MediumRarely

Sheldon_Nigel said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Sheldon_Nigel said:

Noah’s arc?

I thought it was more of a breaching machine for castle invasions.

Trebuchet on a trailer?

FarmingPhD

Ozzie_Isaac said:

nolaegghead said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

FarmingPhD said:

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Botch said:

I don't want to trust my car to a computer, but I think I'd feel better if all the cars around me were controlled by a computer.  

You’d be surprised.  Large groups of vehicles operating under the same control algorithm occasionally get trapped in a corner of phase space that nobody wants to experience first hand.  

Oh, I have no doubt that software can't f*ck up on occasion (my car sometimes doesn't turn on the rear-view camera when I put it into Reverse, and sometimes doesn't roll my window up all the way when I close the door.  
 
I'm just saying I have more faith in software than the guy driving next to me on the Interstate, texting on his phone.  

I can explain the window issue, backup camera is a guess.

A lot of the self driving piece is handled by machine learning/AI.  Challenging piece is that the the result of what the AI does is only predictable if it has “seen” the situation before, meaning very unique situations lead to unpredictable results.  AI code is is also not something you can just jump into and debug to add a new “if” statement to handle a situation.  

Teslas approach of collecting data is pretty slick to support their self driving development.  

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on this topic, but have worked with folks that are, supporting some of their data collection and learning techniques.  Folks that are much smarter than me, but rely on folks that know the application to help them fill in all the corner conditions (or find new ones together).

I wrote the learning algorithm for the automatic transmissions used by my previous employer.  My target was very clearly defined, and yet ensuring you didn't learn into an unstable solution could be difficult.  It was a balance between quick solution, stable solution, and smooth low energy shifts. Key to success in my situation was accurate sensors (couldn't measure directly what I needed), and lots and lots and lots of data to run through simulations. Plus an amazing mentor who challenged me at every step and taught me so much.  Without his guidance, I would not have been successful.

The amount of insane things automated cars have to deal with is absolutely mind boggling.

Also, I dislike the term AI.  Machine learning heuristic algorithms, etc are more accurate terms in my mind.  Hopefully these cars are not self aware.

Self driving cars have to deal with a MASSIVE amount of data.  The challenge has been real-time filtration of that data do distill what's important.  The car's trajectory vector is fairly simple in ideal conditions.  What's the difference between moving shadow and a moving kid is hard.

You are absolutely correct, real time data analysis from the staggering amount of inputs, and the computing power required is really impressive.  Clean, stable, and efficient code is crucial as is the ability to filter all the data down to critical decision points.  We are not talking post processing with all the time in the world, decisions need to be made immediately. I wonder what the internal bandwidth is within a Tesla cars network?

Likely gigabit Ethernet.  Was all CANBUS, then some LIN.  The rapid prototyping controllers we use for off-road automation development are from the automotive sector and have multiple Ethernet connections for communicating with other controllers.  

You nailed it earlier in your comment about not calling it AI, completely agree, I occasionally interchange the terms due hearing others use it wrong.  Unfortunately there are a good many folks that think deploying a machine based control algorithm means it will continue to learn once deployed…………. Sorry for the de-rail, at Disney springs today and saw a Lamborghini, couple Maserati’s, and a ‘70 4 door nova.  No pictures, I was the chauffeur.

FarmingPhD

Just Bentley’s and a mclaren

FarmingPhD

Another Bentley with beautiful color.  Was a Ferrari next to it at the restaurant we ate at.  We gave the valet a hard time for not parking our dodge rental van out front.

lousubcap

@FarmingPhD - at your next valet parking high-roller stop ask the valet who he/she calls to drive the car when it is a three pedal car/manual transmission. 
Enjoy the vacation.

FarmingPhD

lousubcap said:

@FarmingPhD - at your next valet parking high-roller stop ask the valet who he/she calls to drive the car when it is a three pedal car/manual transmission. 
Enjoy the vacation.

That stop was local restaurant that has limited parking so they valet park to get as many people in as possible, double parking when necessary. The lambo left same time we did, driver just got in which makes me believe the cars up front they do not park unless requested (where the Bentley and lambo were).  All late 20’s to early 40’s for the 4 guys working valet, all looked very car capable, more so than the guy driving the lambo.

Ozzie_Isaac

FarmingPhD said:

For the 4 guys working valet, all looked very car capable, more so than the guy driving the lambo.

Lol!  Reminds we of the saying,. "Youth is wasted on the young".

GlennM

FarmingPhD said:

Just Bentley’s and a mclaren

Enjoy your stay in Naples.  We have a vacation home here and the photos you posted are every day on 5th or 3rd. Drop into Naples Auto Sports on Airport Pulling road if you want to overdose on high end cars 

FarmingPhD

GlennM said:

FarmingPhD said:

Just Bentley’s and a mclaren

Enjoy your stay in Naples.  We have a vacation home here and the photos you posted are every day on 5th or 3rd. Drop into Naples Auto Sports on Airport Pulling road if you want to overdose on high end cars 

That’s where the pictures of the first three were, stopped for coffee at bad ass coffee.  Cool area, crazy amount of $$$$.  So what’s your daily driver down there, powder blue rolls Royce? 😁  

GlennM

No, I am a commoner.  Mines the silver one

kl8ton

GlennM said:

No, I am a commoner.  Mines the silver one

Ppffffttttt.....

What it's that?!?  A lowly Mercedes?  You don't even have a roof! 
😁

fishlessman

missed the pic, saw a mercury pickup getting off the highway this morning. a little stunned ive never seen one before

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

GrateEggspectations

alaskanassasin

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

Copy that, I have enough stuff that shimmys, wobbles, makes noise.  My brother had a probably 2003-4 Sahara with a manual transmission and it was actually kind of fun to drive. 

  

 On a side note I would have told the fed-ex guy to pick up those packages he’s dumping in the desert or I would leave him for the buzzards!

saluki2007

GrateEggspectations said:

Is that a Urus?

Ozzie_Isaac

alaskanassasin said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

Copy that, I have enough stuff that shimmys, wobbles, makes noise.  My brother had a probably 2003-4 Sahara with a manual transmission and it was actually kind of fun to drive. 

  

 On a side note I would have told the fed-ex guy to pick up those packages he’s dumping in the desert or I would leave him for the buzzards!

GPS takes them down that "road".  There are even signs telling people it is not maintained and proceed at their own risk.  People just blindly follow their phone navigation.

WeberWho

saluki2007 said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Is that a Urus?

That's one ugly custom front end on that Urus. It doesn't help parked next to the classier looking Bentley. 

JohnInCarolina

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

Copy that, I have enough stuff that shimmys, wobbles, makes noise.  My brother had a probably 2003-4 Sahara with a manual transmission and it was actually kind of fun to drive. 

  

 On a side note I would have told the fed-ex guy to pick up those packages he’s dumping in the desert or I would leave him for the buzzards!

GPS takes them down that "road".  There are even signs telling people it is not maintained and proceed at their own risk.  People just blindly follow their phone navigation.

Langner91

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

Copy that, I have enough stuff that shimmys, wobbles, makes noise.  My brother had a probably 2003-4 Sahara with a manual transmission and it was actually kind of fun to drive. 

  

 On a side note I would have told the fed-ex guy to pick up those packages he’s dumping in the desert or I would leave him for the buzzards!

GPS takes them down that "road".  There are even signs telling people it is not maintained and proceed at their own risk.  People just blindly follow their phone navigation.

Door Dash / google-maps to my address takes people directly to the post office. It is frustrating having to give them directions from the post office. What did people do before GPS?

lousubcap

Before GPS people accepted the responsibility for figuring out where to go as you know.  Now-"Not my issue."  Thus a whole world of "Lost and Confused" and in more ways than one.  

GrateEggspectations

lousubcap said:

Before GPS people accepted the responsibility for figuring out where to go as you know.  Now-"Not my issue."  Thus a whole world of "Lost and Confused" and in more ways than one.  

My wife and I remember diligently mapping out road trips not that long ago. Now, you just ask the Googz and pray you don’t encounter any bugs in the matrix. 

JohnInCarolina

Langner91 said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

alaskanassasin said:

You like the jeep over the 4runner @Ozzie_Isaac ?

I do prefer the Jeep.  The Jeep is louder, less comfortable, and always has problems.  Right now the right door auto-lock is broken, I have an engine error code for a thermostat issue, the rear locker engages but the computer doesn't think it is engaged (position sensor issue), the sway bar disconnect solenoid hangs up so you have to crawl underneath and bang it with a rock, the center console bolts are loose so it shakes around, my rear driver speaker vibrates loudly, and my TPMS system is out of cal by about 4psi.  It also gets a pretty decent front end shimmy around 55mph (not death wobble), and all the suspension components creak and squeak.

The 4runner dove a little while braking, and was kind of slow.  They both have similar miles.

With all that, I could have kept either one and I kept my Jeep.  Logic does not apply.

Parking:


Pulling a stuck Fedex truck out.

Copy that, I have enough stuff that shimmys, wobbles, makes noise.  My brother had a probably 2003-4 Sahara with a manual transmission and it was actually kind of fun to drive. 

  

 On a side note I would have told the fed-ex guy to pick up those packages he’s dumping in the desert or I would leave him for the buzzards!

GPS takes them down that "road".  There are even signs telling people it is not maintained and proceed at their own risk.  People just blindly follow their phone navigation.

Door Dash / google-maps to my address takes people directly to the post office. It is frustrating having to give them directions from the post office. What did people do before GPS?

Pretty sure you could only navigate at night back in the day, because you could orient yourself by looking at the stars.  I remember having to wait until it was dark to order Dominos.