The world's first driverless tram rolls off the production line in Qingdao, Shandong province, July 28, 2017. It is 35.19 meters long, 2.65 meters wide and can carry as many as 380 passengers. It can travel up to 70 kilometers per hour. "For the first time the tram is equipped with automatic train control system (ATC), which is like an intelligent brain for it," said Li Yanyi, an engineer at Chinese car rail manufacturer CRRC Qingdao Sifang. Li said the "brain" could automatically help the tram start, run and stop, with drivers simply there to support the system. Using autopilot technology in trams is designed to help imrove efficiency and safety. [Photo/VCG]
China Daily: World's first driverless tram rolls out in China
The Rockhouse estimation is medium cool since coolness comes from high intelligence in the vehicle and it's driven by energy from clean sources. However, it also runs on tracks which are deemed not cool due to the need to install infrastructure before the trams can run.
The infrastructural aspect isn't hugely uncool since high-traffic corridors likely don't change all that much or not quickly but it's still an expense we don't want.
One thing definite is America is doing nothing of this nature and we have admonished those hayseeds previously but they don't listen. If they don't get on the stick forthwith, the only sticks left will be on tumbleweeds. (The Guardian: Amtrak's $630m Trump budget cut could derail service in 220 US cities)
Another definite thing is it represents another of the swaths of jobs which will be evaporating.
Ed: so how do I survive the Age of Robos, oh, Demon of Doom?
Zen Yogi: easy peasy, mate: do something robos don't do
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