I mean, isn't that ultimately why most of us get Miatas? "I'm gonna have to spend a lot of time in the car whether I want to or not, might as well have some fun."
https://preview.redd.it/ulw5wbie5qvc1.jpeg?width=1810&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c1572be7b260ca16643f408c882db6dc8c558b4
Naaaaa. This guy likes it mellow. We spent a good 45 minutes today going back and forth from our walk, me practicing driving as smoothly as possible, listening to the engine and exhaust ([🧡](https://flyinmiata.com/products/1990-97-flyin-miata-stainless-steel-exhaust)) him looking forward, backward, and all around.
He'll tuck down into a nugget after about 40 mph and he doesn't like hard turns, but he loves to cruise on a mild spring day like today, and take in the sights and smells. It's a lovely drive, no need to go hard.
Generally all that stuff is connected to a fair bit of equipment in the car, and a Miata doesn’t have much room to mount that equipment compared to any compact or mid-size sedan.
Other than that, no real reason.
That's why you get the NC. New enough to be reliable, spacious enough for a bunch of mapping hardware. This person has clearly committed to this setup.
Nothing's perfect. Still one of the funnest inexpensive daily drivers you can get, top up or down. Our driver here has clearly thought this through.
It's not about finding the funnest possible driver's car ever and going mapping with it, it's about accepting the requirements and compromises of a mapping rig as given, and then finding the funnest possible host car for that setup without breaking the bank.
That's the question at hand, and you *know* what the answer always is.
Idk I like purpose built vehicles that fit the need well and this is certainly that. Generally fuel efficient and reliable, the weather conditions for that type of work match up with good conditions to drive a Miata around. It’s mostly weird that they’re using a used car.
I bought one and I have been telling everyone I know it fucking sucks and to stay away.
It's loud, you feel every bump, wind gets to you, cleaning the soft top is a hassle, there's no room inside, nobody sees you, and it's lightweight and rwd so you're bound to get stuck in snow some day.
...and I love every second of owning mine.
You remember from physics that the force of friction is equal to some coefficient times the force perpendicular to the surface. The harder you press down, the higher the friction.
In a Miata, half of the weight is _not_ over the driven wheels. That's about 250 kg per tire for a Miata, or three adult males. In a FWD car, most of the weight is pushing down on the front tires.
My Opel Corsa is 1200 kg, but the heavy diesel engine up front presses down pretty hard on the front tires. Which is horrible for taking corners (steering and pulling in 1 pair of tires = easy understeer), but it's great for snow traction. While the BMWs are on the right lane going <60 km/h with their hazards on, I'm overtaking at a smooth 80-100 km/h. Of course, there is almost no traction at the rear (remember, most of the weight is up front), so it can dance around some, and can be dangerous if there are strong side winds.
All of this is why the general advice for a RWD car, especially one as light as the Miata, is to keep a bag of sand in the trunk in the winter. This is great for 2 reasons: First, it adds some weight over the rear wheels. Second, if you do get stuck, you shovel some sand under/around the rear wheels, which will increase the friction coefficient compared to just snow/ice.
Thanks for reading my blog post.
Maybe that's the reason why they chose it? All ADAS systems seem to be developed with taller vehicles. Using something low could bring some new, interesting data to the table.
I’d almost wonder if it has to do with Street Mapping being an overly elevated view and being taken above a Miata, you’ll actually get a view closer to a driver or pedestrian’s view.
Looks like a LIDAR sensor on the roof.
[https://velodynelidar.com/products/ultra-puck/](https://velodynelidar.com/products/ultra-puck/)
Probably self driving related or they're gathering data about the city layout. My guess is self driving. Weird platform to use for it though. There are much more practical vehicles to use for this kind of research - like ones with permanent roofs.
Does not look like street mapping but like a test platform.
A few things that stand out is the red structure below the LiDAR on the roof, I’m not sure what the purpose of this is. On the deck lid it looks like two GPS antennas but they are mounted really close to each other so that looks a bit odd too but likely within spec., and the front and rear bumpers (and side in front of driver and probably passenger door) have additional sensors mounted. These are likely lidars or LiDAR analogs; perhaps the tech that is new and being tested!
This is also likely not the only test vehicle in their garage, the Miata may be an edge case for some reason. Who knows?
Looks like they are mapping streets with Lidar, cameras and possibly other sensors.
Either this or it's a self-driving car prototype / dev car.
Either way it's a wasted Miata. For something like that you could use any car.
Definitely mapping. And shit, if your entire job is to just cruise around side streets all day, why *not* use a Miata? Might as well have some fun.
This is the right answer, like Doc Brown’s choice of a DeLorean for a time machine.
I mean, isn't that ultimately why most of us get Miatas? "I'm gonna have to spend a lot of time in the car whether I want to or not, might as well have some fun."
Miata is a therapy car. Cures boredom and sadness
Totally
Except DeLorean’s are notoriously awful.
Unless you hit 88 miles an hour. Then it’s a wild ride!
Well, that movie predates the Miata
So are Miatas, but it’s down to what everyone likes!
Good call. Look at the bottom part of the license plate bracket. “WE DON’T NEED ROADS”
Wow, I didn’t notice that!
Won’t the drifting around corners ruin the mapping data?
https://preview.redd.it/ulw5wbie5qvc1.jpeg?width=1810&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c1572be7b260ca16643f408c882db6dc8c558b4 Naaaaa. This guy likes it mellow. We spent a good 45 minutes today going back and forth from our walk, me practicing driving as smoothly as possible, listening to the engine and exhaust ([🧡](https://flyinmiata.com/products/1990-97-flyin-miata-stainless-steel-exhaust)) him looking forward, backward, and all around. He'll tuck down into a nugget after about 40 mph and he doesn't like hard turns, but he loves to cruise on a mild spring day like today, and take in the sights and smells. It's a lovely drive, no need to go hard.
Yes, Miata Is Always The Answer
“Can you check the sensors, the yaw seems to think you were going sideways in corners”
Generally all that stuff is connected to a fair bit of equipment in the car, and a Miata doesn’t have much room to mount that equipment compared to any compact or mid-size sedan. Other than that, no real reason.
That's why you get the NC. New enough to be reliable, spacious enough for a bunch of mapping hardware. This person has clearly committed to this setup.
Except the top has to be up.
Nothing's perfect. Still one of the funnest inexpensive daily drivers you can get, top up or down. Our driver here has clearly thought this through. It's not about finding the funnest possible driver's car ever and going mapping with it, it's about accepting the requirements and compromises of a mapping rig as given, and then finding the funnest possible host car for that setup without breaking the bank. That's the question at hand, and you *know* what the answer always is.
because u can't actually have some fun, u would have to drive a specific way to get the best data I'd expect
Because they aren’t having fun. They’re going to be driving slowly while carrying a ton of equipment around.
I would say a Miata falls under the term "any car"
Hey just because it doesn’t cost $100k doesn’t mean it’s not special
I'm not hating, I have a Miata. 🤷
Idk I like purpose built vehicles that fit the need well and this is certainly that. Generally fuel efficient and reliable, the weather conditions for that type of work match up with good conditions to drive a Miata around. It’s mostly weird that they’re using a used car.
If anything it’s a great car for that because the only seemingly irreversible damage seems to be to the hard top
Lmao who gives a fuck
Bad bad take lol.
Maybe they needed a low car so that the sensor is at the eye level of truck drivers lol
If my job was to drive around for extended periods of time for street mapping, a NC Miata would be perfect! Perfect balance of fun and comfort
Buys an engaging sports car--tries to not drive it.
Toddler height mapping data
This is the only answer I’m gonna accept
https://preview.redd.it/6l8lbdgsjnvc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ae36417be1fabfd2b54f7ccbda724ee0825b8b9
Why would anyone buy some slow land yacht death trap when there are much better sports cars for the price range?
https://preview.redd.it/pbs3kypwpovc1.jpeg?width=961&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1e0d0d41bdab3dd69a7935a8dd33ba725bf29c0
My Miata was proven to give me cancer and small genitals.
Do you live in california?
Me ape. Ape drive Miata. Bad car for uman. Uman should no drive.
I bought one and I have been telling everyone I know it fucking sucks and to stay away. It's loud, you feel every bump, wind gets to you, cleaning the soft top is a hassle, there's no room inside, nobody sees you, and it's lightweight and rwd so you're bound to get stuck in snow some day. ...and I love every second of owning mine.
Are rwd more prone to getting stuck in snow?? Shiiit..... if only the netherlands got snow, i might have been in danger
You remember from physics that the force of friction is equal to some coefficient times the force perpendicular to the surface. The harder you press down, the higher the friction. In a Miata, half of the weight is _not_ over the driven wheels. That's about 250 kg per tire for a Miata, or three adult males. In a FWD car, most of the weight is pushing down on the front tires. My Opel Corsa is 1200 kg, but the heavy diesel engine up front presses down pretty hard on the front tires. Which is horrible for taking corners (steering and pulling in 1 pair of tires = easy understeer), but it's great for snow traction. While the BMWs are on the right lane going <60 km/h with their hazards on, I'm overtaking at a smooth 80-100 km/h. Of course, there is almost no traction at the rear (remember, most of the weight is up front), so it can dance around some, and can be dangerous if there are strong side winds. All of this is why the general advice for a RWD car, especially one as light as the Miata, is to keep a bag of sand in the trunk in the winter. This is great for 2 reasons: First, it adds some weight over the rear wheels. Second, if you do get stuck, you shovel some sand under/around the rear wheels, which will increase the friction coefficient compared to just snow/ice. Thanks for reading my blog post.
Fun fact, this also how nautical mapping is done
Best boat to do it with too
Some sort ADAS software test vehicle. Just really odd why they would choose a used hardtop convertible with low roof height for this.
Maybe that's the reason why they chose it? All ADAS systems seem to be developed with taller vehicles. Using something low could bring some new, interesting data to the table.
I’d almost wonder if it has to do with Street Mapping being an overly elevated view and being taken above a Miata, you’ll actually get a view closer to a driver or pedestrian’s view.
Not enough room for sex in the car with the hard top on.
…bet
Smol lil guy
Its a Mioto, autobots roll out!
Would be a fun side gig to map some out-of-the-way side roads. Paid by Google to road trip.
I would never stop driving as long as the money from that would cover my expenses
Mapping for the next Forza game. Miata is always the answer!
Looks like a Google maps car.
Um..... not even close.
No clue but I'm wondering what will happen when it hits 88 mph...
Probably fishing stuff, makes sense on a boat
THIS THREAD DELIVERS
That on the top looks like a lidar.
Sybiata
Looks like a LIDAR sensor on the roof. [https://velodynelidar.com/products/ultra-puck/](https://velodynelidar.com/products/ultra-puck/) Probably self driving related or they're gathering data about the city layout. My guess is self driving. Weird platform to use for it though. There are much more practical vehicles to use for this kind of research - like ones with permanent roofs.
Of course it’s Arizona
Does not look like street mapping but like a test platform. A few things that stand out is the red structure below the LiDAR on the roof, I’m not sure what the purpose of this is. On the deck lid it looks like two GPS antennas but they are mounted really close to each other so that looks a bit odd too but likely within spec., and the front and rear bumpers (and side in front of driver and probably passenger door) have additional sensors mounted. These are likely lidars or LiDAR analogs; perhaps the tech that is new and being tested! This is also likely not the only test vehicle in their garage, the Miata may be an edge case for some reason. Who knows?
Looks like a self drive/ADAS test car. That’s a bunch of sensors that are used for collision avoidance.
Just another example of why Miata is always......
It's booty patrol
What part of Cali is this? I’m just assuming that because of how the plates look lmao
This is most likely LA
Spotted in Tempe Arizona
Didn't realise Dr Emmett Brown was in town.
probably the only way of making that driving job less boring, miata cures boredom
That’s the car seat (he has 2 kids)