Google's autonomous cars have passed their first driving test in Nevada,
which included a trip along the famous Las Vegas Strip. The self-driving
cars are based on Toyota's hybrid hatchback
The desert state is the first to grant the vehicles a licence to use public
roads. They are controlled by computers processing a combination of mapping
data, radar, laser sensors and video feeds.
Officials from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles rode in the cars
"along freeways, state highways and neighborhoods both in Carson City and
the busy Las Vegas Strip", they said in a statement.
It comes after Nevada passed laws to create a new type of licence for
autonomous vehicles last year, which came into effect on 1 March.
The autonomous cars, based on Toyota Prius hybrid hatchbacks, will now be
allowed on public roads for further development and testing, carrying a
distinctive red licence plate with an infinity symbol on the left side.
Google is one off several firms racing to develop cars able to drive
themselves. It is competing with car manufacturers as well as military firms
to develop the technology. The web giant's executive chairman Eric Schmidt
has argued that the fact that current vehicles rely on human drivers is a
"bug".
"It's amazing to me that we let humans drive cars," he said in 2010 as
Google ramped up its research,in partnetship with Stanford University.
As well as Nevada, Google's home state of California is considering laws to
allow autonomous cars on its roads.
"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error," California
state Senator Alex Padilla said in March when he introduced autonomous car
legislation.
"Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous
vehicle is capable of analyzing the driving environment more quickly and
operating the vehicle more safely."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9252275/Googles-robot-cars-pass-driving-test.html
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