Driverless car may be coming from Google

Many researcher groups all over the world are working at refining a driverless vehicle. Vehicles that drive themselves might have many advantages beyond the obvious security problems. Google\’s lab X might decide to really produce such a vehicle as soon as 2012.

Google\’s Lab X

Although engineer Sebastian Thrun was not the first to work at developing a robotic automobile, it is he who has spearheaded the project at Google\’s Lab X. Thrun states he has devoted his life to creating the technology after a close friend was killed in an automobile accident.

Lab X is a clandestine facility that works at creating out-of-the-box ideas. The facility is so hush-hush that some Google employees are not even aware of its existence. One of the projects could turn out to be manufactured as soon as next year, two sources told the New York Times, even though most of the projects are still being created. And another unnamed source told the same news bureau that Google could plan to manufacture the no-drive automobile in the United States.

Put on California roads

The TED technology conference in Long Beach, California, was where the automobile was exhibited. This happened last year. It has not just been sitting in a factory since then. It has been tested on several roads in California. There\’s a video below that you can watch. It will show what some of this testing has looked like. According to project leader Thrun, the tests have been going very well. In fact, a lot of people do not even notice they are taking place.

Not original idea

When considering the future of transportation, GM looked into a self-driving automobile at the 1939 World\’s Fair in New York. There is satellite and computer technology now that change things. It becomes even more possible. Navigation is done with GPS, lasers, cameras and radars. It does better than you would anticipate.

Do not worry about too many cars

The robotic car isn\’t just used to conserve lives. It can help with the global gridlock problem too. Traffic congestion becomes more of an issue when there are more and more people driving on the road.

At the March TED conference, Ford CEO Bill Ford said:

\”The freedom of mobility that my great-grandfather brought to people is now being threatened. Global gridlock is going to stifle economic growth and our ability to deliver food and health care, particularly to people that live in city centers, and our quality of life is going to be severely compromised.\”

Self-driving cars could all-but eliminate the problem with their computer-aided ability to drive at high speeds without fear of collisions or jams.

Other developers

BMW, General Motors and Volkswagen are also working to develop robotic self-driving cars.

Will you be looking to purchase or sell a new or used automobile? If this sounds like you, get the ideal Ford at used car dealers!

Driverless car may be coming from Google