www.tankpitstop.com/?pid=6&lang=en
Robots have been installed in several filling stations in the Nederlands. They will fill your car up while you just sit there. How good is that?
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But only if your fuel cap can be opened with the key!
That's my car out of that. :(
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Could you sue it if it misfuelled your Mondeo TDCI ?
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Could you sue it if it misfuelled your Mondeo TDCI ?
That is unlikely as that would mean the robot was very silly indeed, and would have picked up a pump that was clearly the wrong one. Can't believe that even something with such limited intellect would do that.
( TIC..... honestly....well.... a bit...)
;-)
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How good is that?
About as good as getting a 90 year old butler to do it (..and no disrespect to 90 year old butlers btw) from looking at the video. Really, what an utterly pointless exercise - the sort of thing 3rd year engineering HND students might do to 'show what can be done' . It shows a recent BMW being re-fuelled - I wonder how it copes with or recognises the other 117 (cars) different re-fuelling procedures it might encounter. It must go down as the most trivial & specious use of robotics & 'inventions in search of a purpose' I've ever seen. I'll bet it also has a high non-completion and/or failure rate, because unlike robots that build cars on a fixed runway or gantry with a closely defined & millimetre-perfect spacial environment, the possible variables in car re-fuelling must be CPU boggling to say the least.
Ultimately though, I couldn't see it being of any economic use - other than for a useful platform for developing useful robotic devices.
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All is fine when the database is accurate ( like the ANPR one). If it fails its mission will it put its hand up or go back into it's box and sulk ?
Will it cope if the filler neck is on the other side of the car?
Do you shout "fillerup!" or "50 Urose" in Dutch?
I can see advantages in a snow storm provided its other arm taps on the window with a credit card holder.:-)
For the future " It wasn't me that misfuelled it, It was that ***** autopump box"
But I guess I would have to queue in along line at the "Foreign vehicles " single pump.
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Not sure if it is a hoax (or not).
But I think the cynicism of some should be tempered from the point of view that, even if this machine recognises only certain fuelling (IE: is only able to at this stage fuel certain types of vehicles) I for one would use it IF my car was compatible. If, due to your cynicism you want to get out of your car and DIY (in the cold or rain and inclement weather, then be my guest). I so much miss the drive-through culture of the US whenever I am here in the UK...we could certainly learn a few things from across the pond.
So this machine will only work with modern cars - you have to start somewhere.
Good on the Europeans for showing some innovativity and leading the way. Roll it on I say.
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I so much miss the drive-through culture of the US whenever I am here in the UK...
Ah yes, of course. Maybe the 'drive-through culture' is entirely unrelated to the highest rates of obesity in the world too - Spot the connection?
If, due to your cynicism you want to get out of your car and DIY (in the cold or rain and inclement weather, then be my guest).
Goodness gracious. Hadn't thought of that - I'll make sure it's sunny & 70 degrees before I venture out next time!
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It is being investigated(in the US as well) but will need all manufacturers to agree on a standard position and type of filler before it could come into use.It would also normally only fill the vehicle-so none of your £5-worth or 10 litres only-I stopped at a self service petrol station on a freeway in Ohio and the cashier was reading the pumps with binoculars-no hi-tech electronics there.
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Ah yes of course. Maybe the 'drive-through culture' is entirely unrelated to the highest rates of obesity in the world too - Spot the connection?
The point I was making that we should be looking to provide more services, not any as we have today. Obesity is a growing problem here in the UK as it in America, and we don't have the drive through and insitu facilities in this country. We are getting fatter whether we like it or not and drive throughs have little to do with it. I know its not being said that drive throughs are the only cause of obesity, but like with many facilities, if you use it often and excessively, it can and will eb detrimental to your health.
The US might be one extreme where everything is drive through, while we are at the other with none (or very little in terms of banking, dry cleaning, chemist, post office etc.) - we should have a happy medium.
Just because a service exists, doesn't mean you have to use it every time. That comes down to freedom of choice. By some people not using it, means that when I come to to use it, there isn't likely to be a queue.
And yes, I like my drive throughs and I would much prefer the use of an automated filling station than having to get out of my vehicle to fill.
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Actually thinking about it I can see it being a good idea for a depot for instance with a fleet of vehicles which are usualy same make & models, needing to fill up after every run or shift etc.. could speed opearations up .. if it was to work successfully that is.
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