Google is testing cars that drive themselves

[bennychico11]

I'll take two!

 

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/10/11/google.testing.cars.mashable/index.html?hpt=T2

 

Google announced Sunday that it has developed cars that drive themselves automatically in traffic, and that it has been testing them on the streets of California for months. It might seem like an unusual project for Google, but it could actually have big benefits.

 

We're not just talking about cars running Google Android. This is the stuff of science fiction. The only accident that has occurred so far: One of the cars was rear-ended by a driver at a stop light. Human error!

 

The vehicles have been tested on 140,000 miles of California road, from Silicon Valley to Santa Monica.

 

Each car is manned during the tests. One person sits in the driver's seat, ready to take control of the vehicle instantly by grabbing the wheel or touch the brake should something go wrong with the system. The person in the passenger's seat is an engineer who monitors the software operations on a computer.

 

Google (Google) hired engineers who previously participated in competitions and races involving automated cars -- important turning points in the development of the technology, which has been coming into its own since around 2005 according to The New York Times.

 

If your first concern is one of safety, Google would argue that you're going about it all wrong.

 

Safety is one of the the project's purposes. Google believes that the technology could nearly half the number of automobile-related deaths because computers are supposedly better at driving than humans in the right circumstances.

 

There are other hypothetical pluses, too. The vehicles' instant reaction time and 360-degree awareness would allow them to drive closer together on the highway than humans can, reducing traffic congestion. They could be more careful when operating the gas, reducing fuel consumption.

 

But the biggest benefit for Google would be the hour or so of daily commute time the car owner would save. Instead of driving, he or she could either be productive or entertained in the vehicle, doing work on a wireless Internet (Internet) connection or watching television.

 

Google doesn't say it explicitly, but TechCrunch was quick to note that this time could be spent using Google products and absorbing Google-run advertising.

 

The most optimistic projections put this technology at least eight years away from market, though. Legal hassles are among the myriad problems; all of the current traffic laws assume that a human driver is present in the vehicle.

 

Do you think this technology will eventually be deployed, or is it just a pipe dream for Sergei and Larry? Let us know in the comments.

[AR Husker Fan]

The biggest obstacle to overcome is perception. Drivers like to feel in control. Are they willing to cede that control? I think it would take a real sea change in attitude for that to happen.

[bennychico11]

The biggest obstacle to overcome is perception. Drivers like to feel in control. Are they willing to cede that control? I think it would take a real sea change in attitude for that to happen.

 

I would think the cars will allow the user to take control if they need/want to.

[mmmtodd]

i remember the first tractor i ran that was gps equipped. leaving my hands off the wheel and hydraulics when coming to the end of the field was one of the hardest things ive ever done...and that was at 6 miles per hour, in an empty, enormous field.

 

60 miles an hour, in 3-4 lane traffic...no thank you.

[Nexus]

[irafreak]

I always thought it would be cool if they could at least build a new super highway that tracked the cars and drove at a constant speed so you could sleep during long trips then when your exit got close you could just have the car alert you and you take control as it pulls off onto the main roads. Not sure why we would want cars to drive us around in town though...

 

Wonder what it would do about a deer?

[irafreak]

I'll take two!

 

 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/10/11/google.testing.cars.mashable/index.html?hpt=T2

 

Google announced Sunday that it has developed cars that drive themselves automatically in traffic, and that it has been testing them on the streets of California for months. It might seem like an unusual project for Google, but it could actually have big benefits.

 

We're not just talking about cars running Google Android. This is the stuff of science fiction. The only accident that has occurred so far: One of the cars was rear-ended by a driver at a stop light. Human error!

 

The vehicles have been tested on 140,000 miles of California road, from Silicon Valley to Santa Monica.

 

Each car is manned during the tests. One person sits in the driver's seat, ready to take control of the vehicle instantly by grabbing the wheel or touch the brake should something go wrong with the system. The person in the passenger's seat is an engineer who monitors the software operations on a computer.

 

Google (Google) hired engineers who previously participated in competitions and races involving automated cars -- important turning points in the development of the technology, which has been coming into its own since around 2005 according to The New York Times.

 

If your first concern is one of safety, Google would argue that you're going about it all wrong.

 

Safety is one of the the project's purposes. Google believes that the technology could nearly half the number of automobile-related deaths because computers are supposedly better at driving than humans in the right circumstances.

 

There are other hypothetical pluses, too. The vehicles' instant reaction time and 360-degree awareness would allow them to drive closer together on the highway than humans can, reducing traffic congestion. They could be more careful when operating the gas, reducing fuel consumption.

 

But the biggest benefit for Google would be the hour or so of daily commute time the car owner would save. Instead of driving, he or she could either be productive or entertained in the vehicle, doing work on a wireless Internet (Internet) connection or watching television.

 

Google doesn't say it explicitly, but TechCrunch was quick to note that this time could be spent using Google products and absorbing Google-run advertising.

 

The most optimistic projections put this technology at least eight years away from market, though. Legal hassles are among the myriad problems; all of the current traffic laws assume that a human driver is present in the vehicle.

 

Do you think this technology will eventually be deployed, or is it just a pipe dream for Sergei and Larry? Let us know in the comments.

That's an iffy claim...we see how well cruise control works...sucks your gas getting back up to speed on hills and doesn't take into account accelerating before the hill...

[zoogs]

The biggest obstacle to overcome is perception. Drivers like to feel in control. Are they willing to cede that control? I think it would take a real sea change in attitude for that to happen.

 

I would think the cars will allow the user to take control if they need/want to.

 

Unless the car became self-aware, and decided it was a more competent driver than the user, and didn't want to give up the control...and shoots the user for trying to wrest it away.

[GMoose]

Google SkyNet is testing cars that drive themselves

Fixed it for ya

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

The taxis in Total Recall come to mind also

[GMoose]

We had a current events quiz today in one of my classes, and the only question I got right was "Google is testing cars that can do what?

 

Huskerboard is improving my grades

[308_Husker]

I think I would just spend that time sleeping.. Riding in cars always makes me tired.

 

This is a little too "Big Brother" for me. SHUN!!!

 

Very cool technology, though.

[bennychico11]

 

Very cool technology, though.

 

I saw it tested on Good Morning America (I think) the other day. It was rather interesting the technology and how the computer reads everything around the car. They even asked the reporter to step in front of the car while it was moving. She said she was scared to death but the car stopped right in front of her.