Let your car drive you
3rd Quarter 2011
News & events
Google has tested a self-driving car, a first in robotics research. Six automated Toyota Priuses and one Audi TT have collectively logged more than 225 000 km to date over Californian highways and roads. In the latest development, Nevada has passed a new law enabling driverless cars in that state.
Before an automated car takes the road, Google sends out a driver to map the route, logging lane markers and traffic signs to become familiar with terrain. This road information is relayed to Google’s data centres. Armed with this intelligence, the automated cars use video cameras mounted on the roof, radar sensors and a laser range finder to ‘see’ other traffic, as well as detailed maps to navigate the road ahead. The cars stop at stop signs and traffic lights completely on their own. The Google advantage comes from its data centres, which can process the enormous amounts of information gathered by the cars when mapping the terrain. The cars are manned at all times by a trained driver ready to take control. Google hopes the cars can eventually help reduce accidents, free up motorists’ time and ultimately curb carbon emissions.
The opportunity for Google is to become the exclusive supplier of proprietary software. Its automated driver system has the potential to become the operating standard for every car in the world – the Windows of motor vehicles. Says Google Distinguished Engineer, Sebastian Thrum, “While this project is very much in the experimental stage, it provides a glimpse of what transportation might look like in the future. And that future is very exciting.”
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