Google is to start building its own self-driving cars, rather than modifying vehicles built by other producers.
Google
is
to
start
building
its
own
self-driving
cars
,
rather
than
modifying
vehicles
built
by
other
producers
.
The car will have a stop-go button but no controls, steering wheel or pedals.
The
car
will
have
a
stop-go
button
but
no
controls
,
steering
wheel
or
pedals
.
Pictures of the Google vehicle show it looks like a city car with a "friendly" face, designed to make it seem non-threatening and help people accept self-driving technology.
Pictures
of
the
Google
vehicle
show
it
looks
like
a
city
car
with
a
``
friendly
''
face
,
designed
to
make
it
seem
non-threatening
and
help
people
accept
self-driving
technology
.
Co-founder Sergey Brin revealed the plans at a conference in California.
Co-founder
Sergey
Brin
revealed
the
plans
at
a
conference
in
California
.
"We're really excited about this vehicle-it's something that will allow us to really push the capabilities of self-driving technology, and understand the limitations," said Chris Urmson, director of the company's self-driving project.
``
We
're
really
excited
about
this
vehicle-it
's
something
that
will
allow
us
to
really
push
the
capabilities
of
self-driving
technology
,
and
understand
the
limitations
,
''
said
Chris
Urmson
,
director
of
the
company
's
self-driving
project
.
He added that the cars had the ability to "improve people's lives by transforming mobility".
He
added
that
the
cars
had
the
ability
to
``
improve
people
's
lives
by
transforming
mobility
''
.
But some researchers working in this field are investigating potential downsides to driverless car technology.
But
some
researchers
working
in
this
field
are
investigating
potential
downsides
to
driverless
car
technology
.
They believe they could make traffic and urban extension worse, as people accept longer commutes as they do not have to drive themselves.
They
believe
they
could
make
traffic
and
urban
extension
worse
,
as
people
accept
longer
commutes
as
they
do
not
have
to
drive
themselves
.
It looks almost cartoon-like, it has no traditional bonnet at the front, and the wheels are pushed to the corners.
It
looks
almost
cartoon-like
,
it
has
no
traditional
bonnet
at
the
front
,
and
the
wheels
are
pushed
to
the
corners
.
It will seat two people, driving force will be electric, and at the start it will be limited to 25mph (40km/h) to help ensure safety.
It
will
seat
two
people
,
driving
force
will
be
electric
,
and
at
the
start
it
will
be
limited
to
25mph
(
40km/h
)
to
help
ensure
safety
.
The most significant thing about the design is that it does not have any controls, apart from a stop/go button.
The
most
significant
thing
about
the
design
is
that
it
does
not
have
any
controls
,
apart
from
a
stop/go
button
.
For early testing, extra controls will be fitted so one of Google's test drivers can take over if there is a problem.
For
early
testing
,
extra
controls
will
be
fitted
so
one
of
Google
's
test
drivers
can
take
over
if
there
is
a
problem
.
The controls will simply plug in, and Mr. Urmson believes that over time, as confidence in the technology grows, they will be removed entirely.
The
controls
will
simply
plug
in
,
and
Mr.
Urmson
believes
that
over
time
,
as
confidence
in
the
technology
grows
,
they
will
be
removed
entirely
.
The front end of the vehicle is designed to be safer for pedestrians, with a soft foam-like material where a traditional bumper would be, and a more flexible windscreen, which may help reduce injuries.
The
front
end
of
the
vehicle
is
designed
to
be
safer
for
pedestrians
,
with
a
soft
foam-like
material
where
a
traditional
bumper
would
be
,
and
a
more
flexible
windscreen
,
which
may
help
reduce
injuries
.
The vehicle will use a combination of laser and radar sensors along with camera data to drive autonomously.
The
vehicle
will
use
a
combination
of
laser
and
radar
sensors
along
with
camera
data
to
drive
autonomously
.
It will depend on Google's road maps, built specifically for the programme, and tested on the company's current fleet of vehicles.
It
will
depend
on
Google
's
road
maps
,
built
specifically
for
the
programme
,
and
tested
on
the
company
's
current
fleet
of
vehicles
.
Google is to start building its own self-driving cars, rather than modifying vehicles built by other producers. The car will have a stop-go button but no controls, steering wheel or pedals.  Pictures of the Google vehicle show it looks like a city car with a "friendly" face, designed to make it seem non-threatening and help people accept self-driving technology. Co-founder Sergey Brin revealed the plans at a conference in California.  "We're really excited about this vehicle-it's something that will allow us to really push the capabilities of self-driving technology, and understand the limitations," said Chris Urmson, director of the company's self-driving project.  He added that the cars had the ability to "improve people's lives by transforming mobility".  But some researchers working in this field are investigating potential downsides to driverless car technology.  They believe they could make traffic and urban extension worse, as people accept longer commutes as they do not have to drive themselves.  It looks almost cartoon-like, it has no traditional bonnet at the front, and the wheels are pushed to the corners.  It will seat two people, driving force will be electric, and at the start it will be limited to 25mph (40km/h) to help ensure safety.  The most significant thing about the design is that it does not have any controls, apart from a stop/go button. For early testing, extra controls will be fitted so one of Google's test drivers can take over if there is a problem.  The controls will simply plug in, and Mr. Urmson believes that over time, as confidence in the technology grows, they will be removed entirely. The front end of the vehicle is designed to be safer for pedestrians, with a soft foam-like material where a traditional bumper would be, and a more flexible windscreen, which may help reduce injuries.  The vehicle will use a combination of laser and radar sensors along with camera data to drive autonomously.  It will depend on Google's road maps, built specifically for the programme, and tested on the company's current fleet of vehicles.