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Mark Rober just set up one of the most interesting self-driving tests of 2025, and he did it by imitating Looney Tunes. The former NASA engineer and current YouTube mad scientist recreated the classic gag where Wile E. Coyote paints a tunnel onto a wall to fool the Road Runner.

Only this time, the test subject wasn’t a cartoon bird… it was a self-driving Tesla Model Y.

The result? A full-speed, 40 MPH impact straight into the wall. Watch the video and tell us what you think!

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[-] Glitterbomb@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

You realize Mark Robers target audience is like 8 years old, right? He also references looney tunes and wile e coyote a couple dozen times, including in this thumbnail you're losing your mind over. The thumbnail fits the theme very well if you ask me.

This video isn't a rigorous scientific test. This is a children's video designed to get them interested in the scientific method. Get over yourself.

[-] Valmond@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

IMO it doesn't need to be a rigorous scientific test, it's not trying to prove something works as it should under all conditions. It's showing the exact opposite, it does not work under this one condition, which is more than enough to disprove the safety of the car.

[-] chaogomu@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

More than one test failed.

The Tesla failed the heavy rain and the heavy fog tests.

There's zero excuse to fail either of those tests. But the Tesla killed the kid both times.

The wall test was just to show that the Tesla cannot put together optical clues.

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Why would children be interested in car safety?

[-] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

Why would children be interested in anything?

Have you never seen educational content before that wraps up potentially boring teachings in an exciting narrative?

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Since most grownups aren't interested in safety, I just thought it would be even less for kids.
All sales promotion stats show that car buyers basically don't care about safety features. Almost all significant safety features are there because of regulation.

Edit:
I can only laugh at the downvoters, you know nothing. It's been a well established fact that safety doesn't sell cars since the 50's.

[-] zenpocalypse@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Seems like a strange application of stats when, as you say, the regulated safety features - the important ones - need not come into a decision-making process and advertising them would be a waste of time.

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago

Stats made over decades back in 50-70's

[-] zenpocalypse@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

So... out of date stats about advertising?

[-] jaschen@lemm.ee 3 points 2 weeks ago

My 6 year old kid loves anything about car and enjoyed Marks video. While driving him from school, he asked me why we can tell it's a wall but the cars can't. It sparked a 20 minutes discussion on car safety and why we need seat belts.

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

While driving him from school, he asked me why we can tell it’s a wall but the cars can’t.

Cool inquisitive kid you have there. 👍 😀

[-] KayLeadfoot@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago

Who downvoted this? XD This brings me joy

[-] soycapitan451@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Why is anyone interested in anything?

My nephew was obsessed with Teslas a few years ago. I asked him why, his response? The indicators can be set to make fart noises.

My 7 year old daughter and I watch Mark's videos together and they have helped to spark her interest in engineering & science.

[-] Glitterbomb@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Oh wow, you really didn't realize? Yeah man this is a youtube channel for getting kids interested in science and technology, like the technology surrounding self driving cars and lidar. Did you see the part where he introduced the technology by taking it to Disney world?

Here's a random video from crunchlabs, the company he created and advertises on ALL of his videos. This video shows his fan base enjoying what they got from crunchlabs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrY-8_hJLJo

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's cool then, but probably not for me. And I still think it's misleading. If they made the analogy in the video it would be different. But as it is, it looks like clickbait. And honestly using clickbait on children is actually worse.

[-] flamingarms@feddit.uk 1 points 2 weeks ago

They do make the analogy in the video. They reference it multiple times.

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Maybe I didn't have sound, and that's not the problem, the problem is the thumbnail for the video is clickbait, I don't get why I have to repeat that so many times?
I understand the joke of the analogy to cartoons, and it's perfectly fine they make that in the video.

[-] flamingarms@feddit.uk 1 points 2 weeks ago

"And I still think it's misleading. If they made the analogy in the video it would be different."

I was just responding to your own point, mate. Good news, it is in the video multiple times, even visually referenced multiple times. They even described as a cartoonish test while showing the cartoon wall gag. So, per your own words, should be good to go then, yeah? I mean, you're arguing with yourself at this point.

[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

By being different if it's in the video, I'm just saying it's OK to make the analogy WITH CONTEXT!
How do you understand it otherwise? It obviously doesn't change the fact that the thumbnail is clickbait either way.

[-] flamingarms@feddit.uk 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, and they make the analogy with context. And the thumbnail references the analogy. And all of it is fully owned as cartoonish and the cartoon is referenced multiple times, even with visuals. So per your own thoughts, should be OK.

this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
294 points (99.3% liked)

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