Companies are working on self-driving cars and robotaxi services. These services are being tested in various areas. Tesla and Waymo are two companies that offer these services. But did you know that companies can control their vehicles remotely?
This is called “teleoperation”. It’s when humans control machines from a different location. Companies use this to train robots to operate on their own and to monitor their activity. They can also take control if needed.
Teleoperation is used by companies like Waymo and Tesla. They use it to intervene when a vehicle is unsure of what to do. For example, if a vehicle encounters a construction zone, it can contact a human operator for guidance.
However, there are limitations to teleoperation. It relies on mobile data connections, which can fail. This can disconnect the vehicle from the remote operator, which can be dangerous.
Experts like Philip Koopman, a professor of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, say that teleoperation is not reliable. He thinks it can work for a small test fleet, but it’s not suitable for large-scale deployment.
John Krafcik, former CEO of Waymo, also agrees that teleoperation is risky due to delays in mobile data. He says that relying on the vehicle to ask for help and make decisions is also risky.
Tesla has job openings for teleoperators to remotely access and control autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots. The job requires performing complex tasks remotely.
In conclusion, while teleoperation can be useful for training and monitoring autonomous vehicles, it has its limitations. Companies need to find more reliable solutions to ensure the safety of their passengers and other road users.
How does teleoperation work?
Teleoperation involves human operators controlling vehicles remotely. This is done through a wireless network. The operator can see what the vehicle sees and control its movements.
Companies like Waymo and Apollo Go use teleoperation to monitor and control their vehicles. They have human operators who can intervene if the vehicle encounters a problem.
What are the benefits of teleoperation?
Teleoperation can be useful for training autonomous vehicles. It allows human operators to guide the vehicle and teach it how to navigate different scenarios.
It can also be used to monitor the vehicle’s activity and intervene if needed. This can help improve the safety of the passengers and other road users.
However, teleoperation is not without its limitations. It relies on mobile data connections, which can fail. This can be a problem, especially in areas with poor connectivity.
Ultimately, companies need to find more reliable solutions to ensure the safety of their passengers and other road users. This may involve developing more advanced autonomous technologies that don’t rely on human intervention.