So, there's this ongoing issue with testing Tesla's self-driving safety features: the cars don't seem to see children crossing the road. In independent tests with other self-driving systems, Teslas keep killing tiny child mannequins.
However, a self-proclaimed Tesla fan on Twitter (WholeMarsBlog) thinks these tests are not being fair to Tesla's system. He insists that the only way to properly test the system is to use a live child, so he put out a call to parents willing to put their kid in front of his car and give the system a real test.
.
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You'd think that no one would be crazy enough to do it, but within the day there were volunteers:
Of course, it would be a dad who has "to convince his wife."
Just imagine that conversation:
And there were open letters on the internet, begging him not to do it. Andrew J. Hawkins of The Verge laid out all the evidence to support not putting that much trust in Tesla's auto-drive, citing sources like Consumer Reports, which said that the Teslas
"act 'almost like a drunk driver,' struggling to stay between lane lines."
Missy Cummings, an automation expert who is director of the Humans and Autonomy Laboratory at Duke University in Durham, N.C. says,
"It's hard to know just by watching these videos what the exact problem is, but just watching the videos it's clear (that) it's having an object detection and/or classification problem."
Even Elon Musk, who would never say anything bad about his cars, says to "stay paranoid" regarding the self-drive features for safety sake.
However, WholeMarsBlog was having none of it and responded in the worst way possible.
Wait a minute...Beto, is that you?
Seriously, any parent considering offering their kid up to this maniac ought to have their head examined.
UPDATE!
He actually did it, and no one got hurt. Thank the Lord! FYI - Language warning around 9:50 minute mark
Thanks to Not the Bee user @milo for the head's up on the update.
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