It's happening! Remember
my post
a few weeks ago discussing the implications that fully autonomous vehicles may
have on motorcycling? Now I read this
article about the Yamaha MotoBot. My response is...Holy shit!
I'm both excited and
frightened by this technology. If the human element is removed from motorcycle
testing, just think of the improvements this could create for performance and
safety. No matter how skillful and confident a rider may be, his or her
survival instinct will limit the ability to push a bike to its absolute limits.
MotoBot will not have these limits. However, the thought of a machine operating
a motorcycle just seems creepy and (to paraphrase the article) terminator-like.
The safety implications
of this technology could be great for motorcycling, no matter how creepy this
robot may be. A safer bike will, in my opinion, will create greater acceptance
towards motorcycling and keep us all riding for decades to come. I still
believe that danger is part of the attraction to motorcycles, but if safer
bikes keeps the industry alive, I'm all for them!
"I need your
clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle." - Arnold Schwarzenegger in
Terminator 2 - Judgement Day
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