Is autopilot justice?

If there is an autopilot car now, do you want to get it? Whenever I asked my friends about this question, I heard that "I don't want it, because it's boring" or "I'm good at driving, so it's no need me. However, I agree with autopilot car and I want to get it right now. When I was an university student, I loved driving a car and I often went to mountain and coast roads. However, I prefer driving more safely and comfortable rather than enjoying to drive. That's why I welcome an autopilot car.

As for an autopilot car, Google is known for being active in the area of this technology, but Toyota also announced that they started to develop their own autopilot car at the CES(Consumer Electronics Show) that started from Jan 8th at Las Vegas. So, it's easy to imagine that these technology will improve in the near future.

There is already an autopilot car race that competes for the technology of autopilot. It's called Urban Challenge hosted by DRRPA(Defense Advanced Research projects Agency). It's the race that autopilot cars drive in the city area within speed limit and on time without any support. It's weird that the main purpose is for military use, but it's no doubt that the technology will improve in competition principle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-xibwwNVLgg 

As for the advantage of autopilot, it has a overwhelmingly low probability of error than human-operated cars. In other words, autopilot has a low probability of a car accident. Machines are never tired and never frustrated. Of course, machines never look away even if a beautiful woman comes into their sight.

There are other advantages such as keeping a perfect speed automatically and driving with shorter distance between cars. So, these advantages lead to an efficient use of road, reducing traffic jam and improving in fuel economy.

In regards to current responding to safety driving by auto company, they appeal their safety support technologies to cover human errors like a brake assist for prevention of rear-end collision, lane keep assist and a blind spot camera. The car that I got recently also has these kind of equipments, but the machine tries to inform me a warning with using beeps. And whenever I heard this sound, I think "I know that!!" That's why I want to say " Under my responsibility, I'll leave the matter to you"

Also, I think autopilot could be a good solution for mobility problem in an aging society. I saw the news that convenience stores in country side started delivery service for elderly people, but young drivers are required. In addition, autopilot can give the opportunity of communicating with other people in the town during their shopping. If small electric autopilot cars are available in this society where one of four people is elder, most of all elders might say "This is what I wanted!!"

Some people say that autopilot must kill the fun to drive from the car, but I want to say " Times have changed" In other words, cars have matured. The history of car started as been faster than horse cart, then people required better handling and braking technology. After that, safety and ecology consideration have been required. During this history, the value that driving faster equals fun was born and car makers focused on this value in their business. However, now I think car makers  should change their mind that fun to drive should go to circuits from public roads or go to the virtual world like Gran-turismo. Horse has been used for as a transportation for long time, but now it persists as a horse riding that focused on just fun-riding not a transportation. Manual-operated car might follow the same fate as a horse. Sightseeing style train that is compared to airplane is also same concept.

I'm a car stylist, but I don't think it's a negative thing. Rather, I'm excited to make new styling. If a steering is gone, the cockpit design must be changed. If it might not be so important to keep visibility for driving, exterior styling could be changed.

It's clear that we have to set a lot of rules before we start the autopilot system. I think that drivers should accept to use an autopilot under their responsibility. That's because it's very difficult to decide who's fault drivers or car makers. As for the manual operating system, when the autopilot technology improves in the future and achieves mainstream recognition in society, it will fade away gradually. However, even technology will be improved, I don't think the emergency stop button is gone .

I expect that the most lowest accident rate car in autopilot will be the bestseller car in the future.

Written in Feb 1st 2013

日本語版

 自動運転は正義か？　

自動運転の車、あったら欲しい？と友達に聞くとそんなのつまらないからいらないとかそんなもの無くても俺は運転がうまいから大丈夫とかいう意見をよく聞く。でも私は大賛成で今すぐ欲しい。学生の頃は峠に走りにいったり海辺をドライブしたりする事が楽しくてしょうがなかったが今は安全に楽に移動したいという気持ちが強い。だから自動運転の車大歓迎です。

自動運転と言えばグーグルが力を入れている事で知られていますが、今月の８日からラスベガスで始まった国際家電ショー(CES)においてトヨタも自動運転の車の開発を始めるとアナウンスしました。今後この技術が飛躍的に進化するのは間違いないでしょう。

すでに自動運転の技術を競うレースもあります。アメリカ国防省(DRRPA)主催のUrban Charangeがそれです。町中を制限速度を守って時間内で無誘導で安全に走破するというもの。目的が軍事用なのはちょっとあれですが競争原理の中で技術が進歩するであろうことはいうまでもありません。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-xibwwNVLgg 

自動運転のいいところですが、まず人間が運転するより圧倒的にエラーの確率が低いことすなわち事故を起こす可能性が低いという事です。機械の良いところは人間のように疲れたりイライラしてたりする事がない。綺麗な女性が歩いていてよそ見する事もありません（笑）その他にもメリットがあります。自動で最適な速度をキープしたり車間距離も安全マージン無しの密着運転が可能なので道路を有効に使えて渋滞の防止や、燃費の向上にも繋がります。

自動車会社の現状の安全に関する対応ですが、ヒューマンエラーを低減させる運転サポート装備、いわゆる追突防止ブレーキアシスト、車線キープアシスト、死角サポートカメラなどが人気で各社こぞって新型車に採用して安全をアピールています。私が最近手に入れた車もそのような装備が付いていますが、最終的に機械が人に知らせようとして警告音が鳴ったりします。そんな時そうしても「そんなの知らせなくてもわかってるよ！！」という気持ちになってしまいます。だから私は「私が責任取るから後は君に任せた！！」と言いたいのです。

またこれからやってくる超高齢化社会において自動運転は一つの解決策になり得ると思います。田舎でコンビニエンスストアが出前で巡回しているニュースを見ましたがそこには若い運転手が必要ですし、自動運転の車があれば町中に出て買い物がてらに人と触れ合う事も出来ます。４人に１人が高齢者という社会において小型の全自動電動コミューターがもしあれば「こんなの欲しかった！」という事になると思います。

運転する楽しみがなくなるという人もいますが私はもう時代が変わったのだと言いたい。成熟したとも言えるでしょう。車は馬車よりも速く移動出来るといところから始まり次に曲がる、止まると行った技術が求められその後、安全や環境性能というところが求められてきました。そのなかで速く走る事＝楽しいとい価値が生まれ自動車会社はそこを付加価値にして商売をしてきました。でも今走る楽しみは公道ではなくサーキットやグランツーリスモなどのゲームなどの世界に行くべきだと思います。馬も移動手段として利用されてきましたが今は走る楽しみとして乗馬という形で存続しています。手動運転の車は確実に同じ運命をたどるでしょう。飛行機に対する観光電車も同じコンセプトです。

私はカーデザイナーですがちっともネガティブには考えていません。むしろ新しい価値のデザインが出来るので楽しみです。ハンドルがなくあれば世界も変わるし視界なんてそんなにシビアに考えなくても良いかもしれません。そうなると車のフォルムも変わります。

自動運転を始めるにあたりいろんなルール作りが必要なのは明白ですが基本的にドライバーが責任を持って自動運転を選ぶという事になると思う。事故が起きたときに自動車会社かドライバーの責任かというところが一番難しいからです。手動運転を残すか残さないかは自動運転のテクノロジーが進化して社会的に認知されれば次第になくなって行くと思う。さすがに機械もエラーは起こすので緊急停止ボタンだけはなくならないと思いますが。

自動運転での事故率が最も低い車がベストセラーになる日も近いと私は思います。

 

Gun

Two years ago, I went to LA on business trip and I met an accident that one gang's car was shot by another gangs car then, crush into the fence of the hotel that I stayed at. This was the first time that I strongly felt about the gun society in the U.S. and I had a doubt why guns still exist in the U.S.

So, I watched the movie "Bowling for Columbine" directed by Michael Moor.

This is a non-fiction movie douched on the affair of shooting to death at Columbine high school in 1999. In this movie, he tried to investigate why the total amount of shooting incidents in the U.S. isn't reduced. He prepared a lot of interesting examples. For instance, In Canada, the rate of having guns per person is higher than in the U.S., but the total amount of shooting incidents is much lower than in the U.S. and he gave the interview to Charlton Heston. He was former leader of NRA(National Rifle Association) Finally, Michael succeeded to stop selling bullets in K-mart, but in 2007 a new terrible massacre happened at Virginia Tech University. Thirty three people were killed. It was about twice as much compared to the Columbine high school massacre.

And now, I'm living here in the U.S. So, I can't pass without describing about the gun society in the U.S. I think there are a lot of reasons why the U.S. people still have guns.

First of all, the existence of Text of the Bill of Right in United States Constitution. In second, amendment It says" A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of s free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed "（規律ある民兵は、自由な国家の安全にとって必要であるから、人民が武器を保有し、また携帯する権利は、これを侵してはならない）

So, American people are allowed to have guns by law. Also, to see the history of America, frontiers fought the native people. After that, they took black from Africa as slavery. After they released them from slavery, they had to guard against black. So, the U.S. history means always fighting. It's natural to use gun for protecting themselves. So the spirit that our security should be protected by ourselves still remain in their heart so deeply. Living without guns means like being naked. In addition, the existence of NRA is one of the big reason why gun control can't spread. NRA is the biggest lobby group in the U.S. They have tons of fund and big influence to politicians. Basically, the Democratic Party takes a positive attitude toward the gun control, but they are afraid of NRA. So, no one appeal about gun control even president Obama. That's why the total amount of people who were killed by gun is still over ten thousands per year. Compared to the U.S., guns are really well controlled in Japan. The rate of using gun in total amount of murders in Japan is three to four percent. It's the second best in the world. So, for us Japanese, the gun is not important something faraway. Our image of guns is that police man and the Self Defence Forces are allowed to have them. So I think living in the U.S. especially in LA, means that we have to be scared about being shot anytime, anywhere. I think people are animals that are easy to get mad. So if people have easy more access to guns, they can use them easily not only for defense, but also for killing people. I hope president Obama will conduct "the gun hunt" from all the people like shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi's "Katanagari"(sword hunt) in the future. No gun means no shooting to death. I'd like to live with my family in the place as safe as possible.

Written in 2009 and revised Oct 2013

 

Campers heaven

I went to Joshua tree national park with my family and my American friends. We stayed at Jumbo rocks camping ground. The temperature was not as high as I expected. Also, the wind was not so strong. So, we had a great time. On Friday night, my friend made a salmon steak for our dinner and I made some smoke foods like chaplain, chess and shaomai. These foods were really nice. Then after dinner, we enjoyed smore that is typical dessert for camping. It's roasted marshmallow biscuits sand  with chocolate. That was also really nice.

Next day, we went around some mainly spots of this park.First, we went to Skull Rock and walked around. There were huge rocks and ere plants. It was easy to walk but walking with child on my shoulder was a bit hectic.Then after lunch, we had a shower by using my friend's shower booth tent and at dusk, we went to Key's View to watch a great sunset. It was the flame of the setting sun.

Then, we had a dinner. I cooked Japanese style foods for my American friend; Teriyaki chicken, fish and some grilled vegetable with miso sauce. Everything I cooked was banquet. After dinner, we amused ourselves with card game. Then we slept.

Day time was so hot, but night time was rather cooler. So, we set hotdog and rice cake for breakfast. Then, we put away tents and all our camping stuff and went back my home. Everything of our camping trip was fantastic and great.

At the same time, I found a lot of differences between U.S and Japan in a camping style.

To start with, almost all Japanese camping grounds need a reservation, but in the U.S, first come first served style is not rare. Secondly, Japanese camping ground has a lot of comfortable equipment such as kitchen fixture, shower room and coin laundry. Some camping grounds have hot spring and power supply. However, in the U.S, especially in national parks, they have minimum equipment. In Joshua tree, it has only non-flush type restroom, but each site usually has a fire place and fixed table and bench instead.

Generally speaking, U.S campers have good manners compared to Japanese ones. They never make noise at night and do fire work display.

In addition, they cook only simple food. However, in Japan, they cook a lot with using pan and dodge oven or something.

Accordingly, there are a lot of differences in camping style.

Briefly to say, Japanese camping ground is designed for enjoying comfortable camping. So, camping is main purpose in Japan.

Opposite to Japanese camping ground, U.S camping ground exists for enjoying a rich environment. So, camping is one of the means to an end. Due to this, U.S camping ground has many activity programs by rangers such as outdoor theater, star watching and so on.

I understand Japanese camping style situation. I think one of the reason is that there isn't a big scale natural environment like the U.S natural park. That's why camping is main purpose. However, here in the U.S, there is huge nature and a clear concept for how campers should enjoy it.

American natural parks are controlled so strictly and they have a long history.

In 1872, Yellowstone area was authorized as a first national park in the U.S.

The one naturalist man made a basic system of natural park.

His name is John Muin. His concept is so simple. "Nature should be saved as naturally" and there is famous phrase " You can leave only footprint and you can take only photo". We are not allowed to bring any stones, flowers and to feed animals. For instance, 1988,there were fifty forest fire in Yellowstone Natural Park, but authority left them because of natural thing.

Also, now the forest recovered by itself. I totally agree with this concept.

I think overprotecting is not good for nature. So making a lot of souvenir shops like somewhere island country is not allowed by all the nature lovers.

I will enjoy American nature during my stay in LA. Of course I will do with American style. 

Written in 2009 and revised Oct 2012