Google’s autonomous cars project has been making headlines for the past few years. Recently, advancements on the project have put the technology even closer for release for public use. From automated parking and lane navigation to collision detection and complex path routing, these technologies are likely to change the way the world travels in the coming decades.
Nevada Grants Google Licensing
Google was recently granted a license to test their autonomous navigation technology on Nevada’s streets. Recent changes in Nevada law are paving the way to standardized licensing and acceptance of hands-free guidance systems and vehicles. Granted a license plate for the vehicle with the numbers 001, this first license is a major step toward making the technology accessible to the public and encouraging mainstream acceptance. Other states that are working on legislation to support this new technology include California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and Oklahoma.
New Milestone: 300,000 Accident-Free Miles
Since the start of the project, Google’s modified Toyota Prius and Lexus RX450h have logged over 300,000 miles with only the slightest human monitoring and guidance. In that time, there has only been one collision. Ironically, this occurred while a supervisor of the project was behind the wheel and manually controlling the car. This track record has held strong as the features of the autonomous guidance system has grown to include advanced tasks, such as parking lot navigation and heavy traffic usage. With the number of automotive accidents reported every day across America, these numbers show hope for the project and the benefits it might hold for the average driver.
What is Next for the Google Cars?
While Google is keeping most of their plans under lock and key, they have shared a few of their upcoming goals in recent press events. With the addition of the Lexus R450h, they have gained access to a competent vehicle for light off-road excursions. They hope to test the abilities of their current technology in a more diverse set of conditions as well. Key items include winter weather driving, with snow and ice, as well as automatic navigation of complex construction zones or roads with potholes, poor markings or other less than ideal conditions. With many of the advanced tasks becoming reality, Google’s cars and their automation systems are coming ever closer to mainstream reality.
The Forecast for Autonomous Driving
The Google cars are still a long way from being ready for the public. The current autonomous system is estimated to cost roughly $70,000. That is hardly a price most average drivers could afford to add to the cost of a new car. However, optimizations in the technology are steadily dropping the price of the technology. KPMG and the Center for Automotive Research in Michigan estimate that similar autonomous cars could be appearing in manufacturer showrooms as soon as 2019. While other industry experts are less certain of the time frame and predict dates closer to 2030, most major auto manufacturers agree that this is the direction in which the future of driving and personal vehicles is heading.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’][/author_image] [author_info]About the Author: Thomas reviews business internet service options. In his free time, he’s trying to learn how to code.[/author_info] [/author]
