Google has been testing six specially prepared Toyota Priuses and one Audi TT over some 140,000 miles of US open roads between Hollywood and San Francisco.
These cars use a combination of Google Maps, video cameras, radar and laser range finding coupled with an ‘intelligent’ computer system in order to ’see’ and navigate around other traffic and obstacles as they follow the road system.
The safety feature in these early prototypes is the engineer that sits in the front ready to take over should the technology fail.
The aim, according to a blog post by Google engineer Sebastian Thrun, is to help reduce the estimated 1.2 million lives lost every year to car accidents around the world each year. “We believe our technology has the potential to cut that number, perhaps by as much as half.” he said.
Some lawyers believe this to be ‘ahead of the law’ as the drivers were not in control but Google argue that, because the driver/engineers are ready to take immediate action they are in overall control of the vehicle.
But the editor of Business Insider, Henry Blodget, not only questions the present legality of its use, he also asks in his piece “Hate To Rain On Parade, But Why, Exactly, Is Google Building Robot-Driven Cars?” whether this is an area in which the core company of Google should be dabbling. “Why is Google developing this technology? Why is Google spending the $10+ million of shareholder money per year the project consumes (15 engineers, plus drivers, plus the cars). Isn’t there something closer to its core business that Google could spend this money on?” he said. He would rather see a separate company formed with its own CEO to push the project properly.
This is a legitimate question when you consider that Google openly has no business plan for these cars as yet.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Economic Voice, Economic Voice. Economic Voice said: The Google car drives itself http://goo.gl/fb/LzYlP [...]
To answer Henry Blodget’s question: It’s because that model is dying on the vine if not already done with. It’s bloated, unnecessary and doomed. Google’s “core product” as it were is innovation. Sort of like its programming platform and search algorhythm, it’s created a system for rapidly deploying experiemantal products with limited management expenditure and letting them find their own means of survival. I can’t imagine a bigger waste of money than paperwork and legal costs of incorporation and a salary for yet another CEO and her or his office staff appendages and associated benefits packages.
There is no business plan for Google openly has no business plan for this project because the applicibility has not yet been determined by the technology itself. Assigning it an arbitrary plan now would limit marketable potential.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steve Brenninkmeyer, stephen b. thomas. stephen b. thomas said: Google has been testing a car that drives itself! http://bit.ly/bTTyVh [...]
Couldn’t agree more with Drew3000… I mean really, Blodget, this project is ridiculously cool. Don’t rain on the parade.
good on em!!
how is using the potential of their existing technology in innovative ways not in line with their core business?
why is it always “spending shareholders money” when you disagree/don’t understand it?
I think Google of all Mega-Corporations on this planet can afford to invest a couple of million in a technology that serves to actually benefit mankind, that has ramifications beyond just $ signs, and also you’d have to be a absolute fool to not see the potential financial reward, in the long run.
what an idiot sorry, really really i would be embarrassed to share opinions like this