Oh god, imagine driving down the road and turning to see one of those freaky things driving.
Some kids would be going home with new nightmares.
Oh god, imagine driving down the road and turning to see one of those freaky things driving.
Pittsburgh is one of the world centers for the self driving systems, with both Uber & Ford testing centers based here. Initial reports, which is covered in the news here often, is that progress is much slower than anticipated and it's going to be far in he future before these systems are dependable.....With how skittish the lawyers get over a once in a 100 million rider sticking his leg out and getting his ankle twisted, and redoing the ride unload over it, I can't see Universal doing that until it's a long proven system. I can't imagine Universal legal approving something like that where there's so much potential for accidents at this developmental stage.
The local reports I'm reading are saying progress has really stalled since these systems are having difficulty reading simple road changes, like lines, and reacting to them. It's going to be a long long time until these things are workable, and they're saying they'll still probably require human drivers to be there and awake. One reason they're using Pittsburgh as testing grounds is that the terrain changes rapidly and the roads aren't straight grid patterns, and the self driving vehicles aren't working out very well thus far on these challenges. A couple of years ago the reports were optimistic, but now they're more pessimistic than anything else. Additionally, there's growing resistance from government entities to enact rules disallowing the vehicles from operating due to safety concerns.I feel like progress is being made at an alarming rate as it seems like only a few years ago that self driving cars could actually become a reality. There will be a point where self driving cars are more reliable than a human and already, insurance companies will be getting squeamish at the thought.
If progress is made to the point that the system becomes utterly flawless, I do wonder how this will change attendance and possibly hotel stays. As the technology develops, the basic layout concept of a car will change and if you can end up with something like a small RV where you can sleep behind the wheel, a day trip for people a thousand miles away can become a breeze.
Set off at night, go for a sleep in your car and wake up at the park. Have your fun, get back in your car, fall asleep and wake up at home the next morning, no hotel needed.
I feel like progress is being made at an alarming rate as it seems like only a few years ago that self driving cars could actually become a reality. There will be a point where self driving cars are more reliable than a human and already, insurance companies will be getting squeamish at the thought.
If progress is made to the point that the system becomes utterly flawless, I do wonder how this will change attendance and possibly hotel stays. As the technology develops, the basic layout concept of a car will change and if you can end up with something like a small RV where you can sleep behind the wheel, a day trip for people a thousand miles away can become a breeze.
Set off at night, go for a sleep in your car and wake up at the park. Have your fun, get back in your car, fall asleep and wake up at home the next morning, no hotel needed.
The local reports I'm reading are saying progress has really stalled since these systems are having difficulty reading simple road changes, like lines, and reacting to them. It's going to be a long long time until these things are workable, and they're saying they'll still probably require human drivers to be there and awake. One reason they're using Pittsburgh as testing grounds is that the terrain changes rapidly and the roads aren't straight grid patterns, and the self driving vehicles aren't working out very well thus far on these challenges. A couple of years ago the reports were optimistic, but now they're more pessimistic than anything else. Additionally, there's growing resistance from government entities to enact rules disallowing the vehicles from operating due to safety concerns.
There will be a point where self driving cars are more reliable than a human and already, insurance companies will be getting squeamish at the thought.
Set off at night, go for a sleep in your car and wake up at the park. Have your fun, get back in your car, fall asleep and wake up at home the next morning, no hotel needed.
Busy day ... But here's another BIG story Paywall link below, but here's some deets:
Two parcels of Stan Thomas' old land are up for sale now (22 acres and 34 acres) both fronting Universal Boulevard. One is across from the Eye and the other is east of the Hilton property on the south side of UOR's land.
There's going to be a normal call for offers, but I can't imagine Comcast not sealing up those final two parcels that can give it two more entry ways.
Story is paywalled, but here's the link: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2019/02/21/exclusive-final-2-major-parcels-to-complete.html
Busy day ... But here's another BIG story Paywall link below, but here's some deets:
Two parcels of Stan Thomas' old land are up for sale now (22 acres and 34 acres) both fronting Universal Boulevard. One is across from the Eye and the other is east of the Hilton property on the south side of UOR's land.
There's going to be a normal call for offers, but I can't imagine Comcast not sealing up those final two parcels that can give it two more entry ways.
Story is paywalled, but here's the link: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2019/02/21/exclusive-final-2-major-parcels-to-complete.html
BILBOMB ALERT ****plays air horn****
I'd assume that CPR Money and GRE Delta are both going to be involved in the sale of those 2 parcels given they're the main valued pieces backing their loans to Stan Thomas.It's not at all surprising that these parcels are going to be sold, but this announcement is interesting because I don't think these sellers have a clear title to the land yet.
I'm intrigued because the article reads like CPR Money is the one offering them for sale, but I would think that they would make more money off of the sale if they don't sell until after Stan Thomas' options expire?I'd assume that CPR Money and GRE Delta are both going to be involved in the sale of those 2 parcels given they're the main valued pieces backing their loans to Stan Thomas.
Any offer is going to have to be large enough to clear most of the various debts that Stan Thomas has built up against UCPM III/OHL; I'd expect at least $35-40 million will be required.
The parcels have to be sold by June given the various timings of Stan Thomas' options with CPR Money and his court issues in Nashville.
Needless to say, I'd be surprised if Comcast/Universal allow these parcels to go to outsiders. They'll probably see what the other offers are and then win them.
Yeah, good point on that. If CPR Money is the one offering them for sale, then unless the options were somehow cancelled (under a condition not made public in their side agreements related to the option), Stan Thomas would have had to agree to them listing the properties.I'm intrigued because the article reads like CPR Money is the one offering them for sale, but I would think that they would make more money off of the sale if they don't sell until after Stan Thomas' options expire?
Posting this again for context...
It wouldn't be built by then. Orange County has a long-range transportation plan for the area, which includes an extension to Mandarin Way to relieve future congestion on Universal Boulevard. It would be built by the country. In fact, a portion of it has already been built past Top Golf.I think it's pretty unlikely that a connecting road like that ever gets built because it wouldn't be worth the cost just to slightly shorten the distance from one or two value hotels when they can use the already existing Universal Blvd. The strip of land Universal owns on the south side of Lockheed Martin isn't much wider than the canal/drainage easement in some places, so building a large road would be a very large and expensive undertaking considering the return value.
The county is going to build a road through Universal's new theme park?It wouldn't be built by then. Orange County has a long-range transportation plan for the area, which includes an extension to Mandarin Way to relieve future congestion on Universal Boulevard. It would be built by the country. In fact, a portion of it has already been built past Top Golf.