The Lexus RX450h SUV will be driving around Austin in the coming weeks[/caption]
For the next few weeks in Austin, Google will be testing out its self-driving cars throughout the city. While the cars will be driving themselves, safety drivers will still monitor their performance and interject if need be.
“Keeping Austin’s roads safe is one of our highest priorities,” APD Police Chief Art Acevedo said in a statement. “So we look forward to seeing how self-driving car technology might someday improve traffic safety.”
These self-driving Lexus cars aim to make driving safer by eliminating human error from the road, according to a Google news release. The self-driving cars use numerous sensors to remain aware of their surroundings and make appropriate decisions in different scenarios. By always being alert to hundreds of objects simultaneously, the vehicle has a 360-degree view around the car, according to Google, using a mounted laser on top of the car.
Right above the back wheel is the processor, which is in charge of cross-checking information gathered by the sensors so different objects can be sensed and differentiated. This is the decision-making element, according to Google. Right below on the back wheel is the position scanner, which is located on the wheel hub. The scanner detects rotations to understand each car's position in the world. The orientation center in the front hood of the car gives the vehicle a clear sense of orientation, and the radar, located behind the grill of the car, detects and measures the speed of vehicles ahead so the self-driving car can calculate how quickly it must slow down or speed up.
This combination of sensors and scanners contributes to the built-in safety the car boasts, according to Google. By eliminating blind spots and staying out of others' blind spots, the cars help protect from most dangerous types of accidents, Google claims. Not only does the car work to protect drivers but also pedestrians and bicyclists.
“From pedicabs to pickup trucks, Austin’s street will give our self-driving car some new leaning experiences so we can continue to refine our software and understand how different communities perceive it,” said Jennifer Haroon, head of business operations for the Google self-driving car project, in a statement.
While great improvements have been made on the self-driving car, there is still a long way to go before they are available to the public. According to Google, these cars are still only for learning. Google said it hopes by the end of 2015 or early 2016 to have a more polished prototype, which will have sensors built in the best place for self-driving rather than wherever they fit.
Austinites can learn more about
how the car works or follow the project on
Google+ .
The Lexus RX450h SUV will be driving around Austin in the coming weeks[/caption]
For the next few weeks in Austin, Google will be testing out its self-driving cars throughout the city. While the cars will be driving themselves, safety drivers will still monitor their performance and interject if need be.
“Keeping Austin’s roads safe is one of our highest priorities,” APD Police Chief Art Acevedo said in a statement. “So we look forward to seeing how self-driving car technology might someday improve traffic safety.”
These self-driving Lexus cars aim to make driving safer by eliminating human error from the road, according to a Google news release. The self-driving cars use numerous sensors to remain aware of their surroundings and make appropriate decisions in different scenarios. By always being alert to hundreds of objects simultaneously, the vehicle has a 360-degree view around the car, according to Google, using a mounted laser on top of the car.
Right above the back wheel is the processor, which is in charge of cross-checking information gathered by the sensors so different objects can be sensed and differentiated. This is the decision-making element, according to Google. Right below on the back wheel is the position scanner, which is located on the wheel hub. The scanner detects rotations to understand each car's position in the world. The orientation center in the front hood of the car gives the vehicle a clear sense of orientation, and the radar, located behind the grill of the car, detects and measures the speed of vehicles ahead so the self-driving car can calculate how quickly it must slow down or speed up.
This combination of sensors and scanners contributes to the built-in safety the car boasts, according to Google. By eliminating blind spots and staying out of others' blind spots, the cars help protect from most dangerous types of accidents, Google claims. Not only does the car work to protect drivers but also pedestrians and bicyclists.
“From pedicabs to pickup trucks, Austin’s street will give our self-driving car some new leaning experiences so we can continue to refine our software and understand how different communities perceive it,” said Jennifer Haroon, head of business operations for the Google self-driving car project, in a statement.
While great improvements have been made on the self-driving car, there is still a long way to go before they are available to the public. According to Google, these cars are still only for learning. Google said it hopes by the end of 2015 or early 2016 to have a more polished prototype, which will have sensors built in the best place for self-driving rather than wherever they fit.
Austinites can learn more about how the car works or follow the project on Google+ .
