Former Tesla Lead Engineer Doug Field Returns to Apple to Work on Project Titan

[jerryk]

The stations you listed are all along I-80. Most cars on I-80, at least once west of Lincoln, are travelers going from some other state and only traveling through Nebraska on their way to someplace else. Chicago or Minneapolis to Denver, for example. Not only is this a fly over state its a drive through state. People who live here drive a whole lot of places that don't include going near those 5 locations.

I'm not saying that Tesla is a bad car or product, but 250 mile range on the east coast gets you to a LOT of major cities and hundreds of charging stations. Same with California and the coast of Oregon and Washington State. From Chicago you can get to cities like Detroit, Green Bay, Saint Louis or Minneapolis with that range.

From Omaha you can't get to any of those cities on a single charge. Kansas City and Des Moines Ia are the only 2 large non Nebraskan cities you could reach. Yes there are charging stations along whatever probable route most people would take. But leave the Interstate and you abandon the availability of stations in the Great Plains states. Those stations make it practical to travel through Nebraska to get somewhere else. It's not practical to drive IN Nebraska unless you stay close to those 5 locations.

In time it will happen. More charging stations will be built and not just along interstates. But Tesla's priority has to be areas that have a high population density. Nebraska isn't one of those.

And every electric car manufacturer needs to get together and agree on a charging plug and voltage standard. A Chevy Bolt -stupid name for an all electric car when the same company also sells the Volt which is a hybrid- can't use Tesla charging stations or vice-versa. It would help all electric vehicle manufacturers to agree on a standard so that any charging station is usable by any electric car.

Understand. The infrastructure for travelers is growing. But it is only needed when people travel more that 150 miles or so away. For me and the vast majority of people (average US commute is 35 miles), that is fine since you charge at home and thus start every trip at 100%. But there are always situations where alternatives are better because of things like lower population density. (We have 14% (1 of 7 people) of the US population here in California, so we have EV charging all over.)

Regarding non-Supercharger charging, look at the maps on Plugshare.com. There are a lot of the common level 2 and high speed DC chargers than can be shared across all brands of EVs. With home charging and occasional use of these chargers my friends with Volts almost never have to use gas. Chevy knows this is an issues and has the Volt programmed to actually burn gas occasionally even when it is not needed, to ensure gas does not turn to gel in the tank.

Hopefully GM and other companies will start taking up Tesla on its offer to use the Supercharger network. Tesla has said that any car company that wants to start covering a share of the costs, can have their vehicles use the superchargers.
[doublepost=1534005817][/doublepost]

Saw my first Tesla in the wild about three months ago. I don't think it was on auto but it should have been. They guy cut across my lane to make a right turn.

Definitely not on AutoPilot then. It checks before changing lanes and is sometimes a little to too conservative.

What you experience is another reason humans should not be driving. We get pre-occuppied with work, dates, etc. and then realize, "dang I am about to miss the turn. I can't have that. Cut this guy off!".

 

[avkills]

What you experience is another reason humans should not be driving. We get pre-occuppied with work, dates, etc. and then realize, "dang I am about to miss the turn. I can't have that. Cut this guy off!".

Ha ha. Sorry to laugh, but that makes it sound as though Apple and others (or self driving cars in general) are trying to solve a problem that the tech companies created with smart devices. I get very nervous on the road when I look in my rearview and notice the person behind me buried in their phone, I will try my best to get away from them by changing lanes.

I like driving (but generally it is much more enjoyable if you have a fun car), so for people like me autonomous cars do not appeal much. But there is definitely some major upsides to moving that direction; although the processing speed required is incredible high; and I do not think we are quite there yet, but close.

I am surprised we have not started moving in the direction of having "smart" roads, that is LED screens that can change the flow of traffic instantly by re-assigning lanes and such. The technology is already here to do that. Parking lots that can automatically add handicap spots as the current ones are used. Tons of forward thinking ideas. I've seen demos of this stuff. Roads that have heaters to melt ice and snow automatically.

Oh well, I guess the government would rather grind up asphalt and re-apply it every year.

 

[jerryk]

Ha ha. Sorry to laugh, but that makes it sound as though Apple and others (or self driving cars in general) are trying to solve a problem that the tech companies created with smart devices. I get very nervous on the road when I look in my rearview and notice the person behind me buried in their phone, I will try my best to get away from them by changing lanes.

I like driving (but generally it is much more enjoyable if you have a fun car), so for people like me autonomous cars do not appeal much. But there is definitely some major upsides to moving that direction; although the processing speed required is incredible high; and I do not think we are quite there yet, but close.

I am surprised we have not started moving in the direction of having "smart" roads, that is LED screens that can change the flow of traffic instantly by re-assigning lanes and such. The technology is already here to do that. Parking lots that can automatically add handicap spots as the current ones are used. Tons of forward thinking ideas. I've seen demos of this stuff. Roads that have heaters to melt ice and snow automatically.

Oh well, I guess the government would rather grind up asphalt and re-apply it every year.

No government agency wants more liability. Given the "it is always someone else's fault" nature of people these days, the last thing they want is to take on smart roads.

BTW, the good thing about self-drive (or assisted driving cars) is that they handle the 90% of most drives that is mind numbing boring. Being stuck in traffic staring at the bumper of the guy in front of you for 60 minutes, twice a day, is better handled by a machine than a human that is designed to crave interaction.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Serious problem, people won't be buying cars in 3-5 years.
[doublepost=1533893582][/doublepost]

Likely Apple Car won't be something you purchase. Subscription based, all-you-can-travel automated-Uber service for $500/mo would be compelling to me. Leave all maintenance/insurance/charging to Apple.

 

[seadragon]

LOL, no...

Sorry, but no...

It’s already happening.

 

[BorderingOn]

Love the non-owners chiming in.

All I can say is that the car is not only the funnest car I’ve bet driven, but is the fastest car on the road. After owning one for a year, I’ve never encountered another car that could beat me. Muscles cars, Porsche, you name it.

Also it drives itself, literally.

So besides the simple interior, this is the best car from the planet. Coming from an owner. Free charging for life is a sweet deal too
[doublepost=1533904343][/doublepost]
Why would this be an issue if the car is driving itself? It’s not a distraction even when the car isn’t taking over since you have a main screen HUD in the drivers dashboard

You are a danger to yourself and others. No Tesla has self driving at this time. As much as owners repeat this it is simply not true.
[doublepost=1534021171][/doublepost]

Have you actually seen the footage and looking into it? It was a combination of few things but mainly a driver error as she was not paying attention.

This is false. The Uber was in self driving mode. It was her job to monitor and take over in case of an issue. That doesn’t change the fact that Uber’s technology failed.

 

[VictorTango777]

You could have said the same about mobile phones, or MP3 players, before Apple showed its hand.

I can’t say what the answer is regarding cars, but I’m willing to wait and see rather than dismiss it sight unseen.

Software companies with a "release now, patch later" mentality are in for a rude awakening if they think they are going to do the same thing with a car, with anything other than a stereo system.

 

[VictorTango777]

Definitely not on AutoPilot then. It checks before changing lanes and is sometimes a little to too conservative.

What you experience is another reason humans should not be driving. We get pre-occuppied with work, dates, etc. and then realize, "dang I am about to miss the turn. I can't have that. Cut this guy off!".

http://joyoftech.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/2148.html

 

[Tiger8]

Apple car would probably be a bigger flop than homepod

 

[Abazigal]

Apple car would probably be a bigger flop than homepod

Eh, all Apple products invariably have to go through the same few stages of cognitive dissonance.

1) When product is first released - there is no way Apple can be successful or even compete in any of these markets.
2) Said product goes on to sell in ever-increasing quantities, capturing mindshare and the lion's share of the profits
3) A few years later - of course it will succeed. Apple sheep will buy anything.

First it was the watch and the AirPods, now it's the homepod, the car will be no different, and the outcome will still be the same.

 

[Bacillus]

I don’t see Apple doing that. Apple is partly as profitable as they are because they outsource all their manufacturing. Tesla is a poor choice of an acquisition because of this. Apple might be interested in their design secrets, but wouldn’t want the production plants that come with it.

You’re right - on the short term.
But Tesla’s value is uncertain an may sooner of later take a big dip.
Concurrently, (public) pressure on Apple will become higher and higher as the perception of Titan as vaporware increases. At some point, Apple will have to move before other carmakers come in and take over Tesla.

 

[Abazigal]

You’re right - on the short term.
But Tesla’s value is uncertain an may sooner of later take a big dip.
Concurrently, (public) pressure on Apple will become higher and higher as the perception of Titan as vaporware increases. At some point, Apple will have to move before other carmakers come in and take over Tesla.

If Tesla ever does become a sinking ship, won’t it make more sense to just hire away all their talent?

I do wonder who is providing the funding necessary for Elon Musk to take Tesla private though. He has been extremely silent on that. I will be darned if this turned out to be Apple.

 

[usarioclave]

Software companies with a "release now, patch later" mentality are in for a rude awakening if they think they are going to do the same thing with a car, with anything other than a stereo system.

Actually, you're wrong. It has to work, of course, but that doesn't mean that it has to be optimal. You can always patch, but it's something that service has to do. Of course, if your car is connected you can do it OTA.

For older cars you're probably correct. For new, connected cars the rules have changed.

 

[Morgenland]

That's a BMW steering wheel though...

Yes, and conventionally probably the best possible solution, but we will see how BMW will equip itself in the future, I am very curious!

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

Well, they will probably cover it in a touchpad with no tactile response, but hey it will look good.

And you accidentally press all the time. Good times, touch bar. Good times.

 

[AppleScruff1]

An Apple car won't do this.

 

[Bacillus]

If Tesla ever does become a sinking ship, won’t it make more sense to just hire away all their talent?
I do wonder who is providing the funding necessary for Elon Musk to take Tesla private though. He has been extremely silent on that. I will be darned if this turned out to be Apple.

Not Apple - at this point.
Think of Saudi’s that are loaded and need to diversify

 

[AirunJae]

You’re right but Apple will sometimes test the water in brand new territory. They made an iTunes phone remember

Yeah, that's why I said it was how Apple "typically operates." If I recall correctly, Steve was not happy with this phone, and the user experience was abysmal.

 

[dBeats]

It's not Bob Mansfield, it's Bob "The MAN"sfield. This guy is the unsung hero of Apple's hardware.

 

[Freida]

You are a danger to yourself and others. No Tesla has self driving at this time. As much as owners repeat this it is simply not true.
[doublepost=1534021171][/doublepost]

This is false. The Uber was in self driving mode. It was her job to monitor and take over in case of an issue. That doesn’t change the fact that Uber’s technology failed.

That itself is the driver's fault. She was there to prevent it. (I know it was in auto mode)
She didn't pay attention and she killed the drugged pedestrian. So its not Uber's fault but the driver's. Just like the meme - You only had one job

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

It's not Bob Mansfield, it's Bob "The MAN"sfield. This guy is the unsung hero of Apple's hardware.

Absolutely.

As I posted before, and as I could surmise from afar, the lone star of the executive bin.
Brilliant with a low-key demeanor, avoiding the now-so-common, meaningless and tiresome, superlatives coming from the executive team.

 

[schlitzz]

Some of us are expert in our respective fields and can tell a lot by simply looking at certain things.
Is there something that surprised you?

Baggage handlers can fly planes?

 

[Bacillus]

Absolutely.

As I posted before, and as I could surmise from afar, the lone star of the executive bin.
Brilliant with a low-key demeanor, avoiding the now-so-common, meaningless and tiresome, superlatives coming from the executive team.

Then he will have a hard time reporting to that over-expecting, self overestimating squad of boom-busters
[doublepost=1534171698][/doublepost]

Bacillus, totally agree. The forward-thinking automakers see Apple personified as Barbarians at the Gate, and would never secede strategic automation technology to a third party. (Check on Audi's e-tron development, as an example.)

What will be left are the dregs of contract manufacturing.

Nevertheless, on Bob Mansfield I trust. (And share your dislike for Tim Cook.)

I also like Bob’s down-to-earth approach but sadly, he reports to the Cookette Board. Which is unable to imagine, let alone acknowledge or accept, anything imperfect from Apple (thereby contributing to a failing Titan strategy)
That alone will sadly but expectedly point to Bob as an early victim.
So indeed, I couldn’t think of anyone on the planet who deserves an early retirement more than Tim Cook before those kinds of things would even start to occur.

 

[BorderingOn]

That itself is the driver's fault. She was there to prevent it. (I know it was in auto mode)
She didn't pay attention and she killed the drugged pedestrian. So its not Uber's fault but the driver's. Just like the meme - You only had one job

I don't disagree that particular incident was her fault but this ignores the context of the original reply which was looking forward to when autonomous vehicles are indeed roaming our roads with no alert driver at the wheel, if there is even a steering wheel in some models.

 

[A MacBook lover]

You are a danger to yourself and others. No Tesla has self driving at this time. As much as owners repeat this it is simply not true.
[doublepost=1534021171][/doublepost]

This is false. The Uber was in self driving mode. It was her job to monitor and take over in case of an issue. That doesn’t change the fact that Uber’s technology failed.

My bad, I meant to say auto-steering, which on a highway is pretty much driving itself.