Self-driving cars have always been something we have only seen in movies of the future, like in Demolition Man or iRobot. If Google has its way, they might be closer then just in Hollywood.
Google is lobbying to get Nevada to be the first state to allow self-driving cars on public roads. Also included in the legislation is an exemption for drivers behind the wheel of an autonomous vehicle from receiving tickets for driving while distracted, basically texting while driving.  Which would also apply to talking while driving or any other distraction that could land you in hot water with the police.
This was all brought to light by an innocent reporter who happen to ask the right question and got an answer.  The reporter was asking about Google’s research and development program, which at the time was a pretty big secret. Google admitted to having test drives with fully robotic hybrid vehicles over more than 140,000 miles of highway - including Highway 1 between Los Angeles and San Francisco. They also went on to state that they have seen results of trips covering more than 1,000 miles with no interference from the human driver in the vehicle.
Google currently has a total of 6 autonomous vehicles in its testing program, 5 Toyota Priuses and an Audi TT. All of them are easily identifiable by the large laser range finders mounted on the roof of the vehicles. Not to mention the many cameras, radar and sensors all connected to a trunk full of computers.
Initiatives like these are what is going to change the world. If Google can put a hybrid car on the road that wouldn’t require the continuous failings of human beings behind the wheel, there might be some hope on the road again.
What do you think? If you had a hybrid car you could summon with your Android powered handset and have it take you where you wanted to go, would you use it all the time? Â Could you imagine having a Google car, Google phone and now all the Google@Home technology, Google would own us.
Source: NYT
