"Unidentified sources" are reporting the Walt Disney World is in the late planning stages of launching a pilot program for autonomous shuttles:
LATimes wrote:
Walt Disney World plans to deploy driverless shuttles in Florida
by Russ Mitchell
Los Angeles Times
April 28, 2017Walt Disney World in Florida appears poised to launch the highest-profile commercial deployment of driverless passenger vehicles to date, testing a fleet of driverless shuttles that could cart passengers through parking lots and around its theme parks.
According to sources with direct knowledge of Disney’s plans, the company is in late-stage negotiation with at least two manufacturers of autonomous shuttles – Local Motors, based in Phoenix, and Navya, based in Paris. It’s unclear whether contracts would go to both or just one of the companies.
The sources, who asked not be identified to avoid offending Disney, said the company plans a pilot program later this year to transport employees in the electric-drive robot vehicles. If that goes well, they said, the shuttles would begin transporting park visitors sometime next year.
…
Most of the vehicles are shaped like tall bricks on wheels. With plenty of headroom, the shuttles typically can carry up to 12 to 15 passengers. Equipped with cameras, radar and laser sensors, they’re limited in “geofenced” areas – zones where the environment is well-mapped and understood by the vehicles’ artificial intelligence software and hardware.
Though the shuttles are capable of driving 25 mph or more, their speed is usually limited in initial deployments to 5 to 10 mph.
“They should be boring,” said Alain Kornhauser, an autonomous vehicle expert at Princeton University. “Riding in an elevator is boring. It takes you where you want to go.”
Shuttles like those planned at Walt Disney World “are in a sense going to demonstrate to the public that (robot vehicles) really work.”
…
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Figment!;2500824 wrote: "Unidentified sources" are reporting the Walt Disney World is in the late planning stages of launching a pilot program for autonomous shuttles:
From a friend on site. Verified this is true. They are not there yet, but are "very" close.
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Does this make anyone, beside me, think of the "Johnny Cabs" from the movie "Total Recall"???
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Jeff;2500828 wrote: More jobs lost to automation!
yeah. just like the buggy whip manufacturer lost his job to a mechanic.
There is going to be some serious maintenance required in order for it to stay safe. If everything is not functioning properly, there is no human to compensate. Disney is not exactly famous for staying ahead on its maintenance these days.
Tekneek;2500905 wrote: There is going to be some serious maintenance required in order for it to stay safe. If everything is not functioning properly, there is no human to compensate. Disney is not exactly famous for staying ahead on its maintenance these days.
True, but gondola systems don't require that much maintenance anyway.
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... maybe someday they'll theme them to fit the Haunted Mansion story and one of the ghosts is escorting us to the park ???
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Tekneek;2500905 wrote: There is going to be some serious maintenance required in order for it to stay safe. If everything is not functioning properly, there is no human to compensate. Disney is not exactly famous for staying ahead on its maintenance these days.
Eh. Depends on the technology they use. Self driving vehicles are far safer than those driven by us. Our perception is you need human back up but the risk of accidents from a human driving a tram is statistically higher than a computer driving it.
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Oops, I didn't realize this post was about the shuttles.
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Natalie
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Dulcee;2501015 wrote: Eh. Depends on the technology they use. Self driving vehicles are far safer than those driven by us. Our perception is you need human back up but the risk of accidents from a human driving a tram is statistically higher than a computer driving it.
Sure they are, so long as everything is functioning properly.
It's evident to me, based on what I saw on our trip last week, that Disney is investing a significant amount of money in improving the way people move around the parks. All the roads are torn up and they're adding "bus only" lanes to the middle of the major thoroughfares. They're adding the gondolas and now the autonomous vehicles. They clearly feel like moving around the resort is an issue.
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Ian;2501254 wrote: It's evident to me, based on what I saw on our trip last week, that Disney is investing a significant amount of money in improving the way people move around the parks. All the roads are torn up and they're adding "bus only" lanes to the middle of the major thoroughfares. They're adding the gondolas and now the autonomous vehicles. They clearly feel like moving around the resort is an issue.
Anything to get more money out of your pocket...quickly and efficiently! 
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