The self-driving car logs more miles on new wheels
August 8, 2012
Google self driving Lexus RX450h (credit: Google)
Members of the Google self-driving car team will soon start using the cars solo (rather than in pairs) for things like commuting to work, says Google Official Blog.
Our vehicles, of which about a dozen are on the road at any given time, have now completed more than 300,000 miles of testing. They’ve covered a wide range of traffic conditions, and there hasn’t been a single accident under computer control.
“This is an important milestone, as it brings this technology one step closer to every commuter. One day we hope this capability will enable people to be more productive in their cars. For now, our team members will remain in the driver’s seats and will take back control if needed.
“And while these team members are commuting, many of them will be testing our algorithms on a new type of vehicle we’ve added to the self-driving car family over the past few months to help us refine our systems in different environments and on different terrain: the Lexus RX450h.”
Comments (13)
by Phil Osborn
It’s really nice that this is coming along just before the major wave of boomers start retiring. Still reasonably bright, for the most part, Multi-taskers, we are not. Taking that wasted attention from the road to something more useful such as reading or watching the olympics or the mars lander, or napping is a really great plus for the near future.
by MrFriendly
What about rainy and snowy conditions? Or on iced bridges and mountain roads?
by GatorALLin
…..I have traction control on my GT mustang and fun to turn it off to see how it performs in the rain, snow, or other conditions…. Amazing how well it works in the rain. Unless you are a professional driver I think it would be hard to out perform many of the cars computerized systems in today’s current cars. They are getting even better now with back up cameras or other things to hit the breaks for you…etc. With the iced bridges one could argue that a weather map may know more about the chances of ice vs. the average driver not using those tools or that happen to see/read the warning signs or see the ice on the road. I can see these getting better than 99% of the drivers out there (who would rather be texting vs. driving anyhow) already.
by Bri
Ooouuch! More productive could mean, talk with friends, play games, no DWI. I love to drive, but I’d love to be doing something else sometimes.
by Laura C.
Sorry Spotted’s having a bad day. Google Car advances are always great news. You want to have your personal driving experience, that opportunity will still be there — though the people who don’t like that choice aren’t those pushing advanced technology but those opposing it, who would prefer our choices be confined to gov’t-run mass transit. The auto-car will be such a lovely option that it will be the free choice of most Americans, most of the time. This makes it even more ridiculous that California is further indebting its future citizens to the old-tech, old-think “super trains” and Northern VA is indebting its future citizens to Metro lines out to the far exurbs.
by Moniker
Sweet, I can’t wait to have a self-driving car. I could sleep through my commute, work, whatever I want! Anything but incredibly boring commute-driving… Thanks, Google!
by SpottedMarley
“One day we hope this capability will enable people to be more productive in their cars.”
right. because that’s what i want to be. more productive.
two words for you google. the first one starts with F and the second word is YOU .. see if your algorithms can figure it out
by Phaseline
More productive does not necessarily mean you are “working.” To me, more productive means I can roll out of bed, get ready, jump in the car, and then read the paper on my kindle, or read a book…or take a nap on a long car ride to the airport (and after dropping me off, my car can park in long term parking and I don’t have to do the hike). Thinking that self driving cars is somehow inextricably linked to “the man” getting more work out of you is preposterous, close minded, and ignorant. But thanks for commenting.
by mrteye
It may have been a little clearer to say, “not wasting your time commuting” I’m looking forward to sleeping in my car on the way to work or turn a van into a dining car.
by Gorden Russell
Let’s not be so negative, SpottedMarley. Lots of people have long, dull, repetitive commutes every day. If your car would drive itself you could catch up on your reading or even take a nap. I’ve had lots of long drives where I had no money to stop and get a room, I just had to press on regardless, cranking down the windows in hopes that cold air would keep me awake. Even then I would have to slap my own face and still ended up waking up as the tires hit the rumble strips. These Google cars will be a Godsend. I’m certainly not going on another long drive without one.
Of course, before these cars become very widespread, telepresence commuting will also be available.
by bbwake
ummm its not just Google developing this tech… clearly your algorithms are defected…
by Brian Krassenstein
Why the harshness? You wouldn’t want to be more productive on your drive? Wouldn’t it be a plus if you could get in 30 extra minutes of work, studying, catching up on your favorite blog while your car drove you to work? This is the kind of technology from Google which is pushing everyone else forward in terms of innovation.
by Thermo25
32,885 people died in car accidents in the US alone in 2010. This technology could save many many lives every year.