Google Robocar Racetrack Ride

It felt like a racetrack demo lap, where the instructors show off what they can do, with wheels squealing at the edge of performance... a newfound performance, in this case, eked out of an intelligence-enhanced Prius with no human driver.

Imagine being driven entirely by the car for your work commute... in traffic, through tollbooths, and across bridges to the front door. Some Google engineers are already doing this every day.

No need to look for a parking space; just let the car find one for you as you enter the building.

Two computers tucked into the trunk are doing all the steering, braking and acceleration by issuing commands to the drive-by-wire bus already designed into modern hybrid and electric cars.

The spinning LIDAR on the room maps the environment in 3D, including pedestrians and, in this case, traffic cones. A camera to the side of the rear view mirror tracks the road. Three radar in the front bumper and one in back also detect proximal objects. GPS, inertial sensors and wheel-speed monitors give feedback to the computer on the car's performance.

There are times when I want to drive, and times when being a driving machine feels more like the drudgery that is better left to the machines. Or when you are tired, or want a designated driver for an evening out. Commute time is a staggering collective time waster, and Ford estimates it will escalate to global gridlock in the near future. Google's Thrun estimates that autonomous vehicles could pack more closely together and achieve 2-3x throughput improvements from existing roadways, with fuel and pollution savings from the efficiency gains. And in urban environments, the largest amount of drive time is spent looking for a parking space.

[EgaoNoGenki]

There has GOT to be a "fuel efficiency mode." That would spare the drivers the thrill if they aren't looking for it.

[hagerty]

Very cool, Steve. Who knew a Prius could corner like that?

[jurvetson]

Google "Skynet Terminator" Skynet was the intelligent defense network that became self-aware. In the book Robopocalyse, the robot uprising begins when all the cars disable the door locks and then run into each other head on, passengers banging on the windows helpless. That kind of thing. =)

[abyni]

cars will be presenting the next top gear if ever

[nfazio]

@Xeogin she said "IN this thing"

[MattZildjian]

With google here, I no longer need to think.

[GGameBoy]

She says, "How many people have driven IN this thing"

[DarvelGaming]

hello im from a scouting in the netherlands for a event we need to know the location of the roof where this test was done

you have my thanks

[alvon]

I dont think I would be sticking my head out, or standing anywhere near that thing!

[Weequay]

@ConsumerOfNothing

We die of dehydration

[zayarummm]

@Joshuaxiong2 you can clearly see someone wearing a seatbelt.

[redtailedhawk]

I want to see this on the top gear track.

[EgaoNoGenki]

Give autopilotted cars to teens. They'll LOVE this kinda thrill! (But if grandparents are on board, please put on the manual mode or else they'll keel over from a coronary.

[gdaychina]

Does it steer using a $25000 EMC steering system or the vehicles own electronic power steering system

[BrainGordon]

@ConsumerOfNothing The engine would seize, just like any other car.

[MikeTrieu]

What...no drifting action?! Color me nonplussed...j/k, that's pretty awesome ;)

[joaorjrj]

@ConsumerOfNothing the same any other car? will not work anymore?

[mortenydecom]

Settings -> Driving Style -> Rally Sprint :-)

[PeterRiisLarsen]

@ConsumerOfNothing Like any other car with electronics its motor most likely is going to stop.

[JasonGorr]

I have heard a lot about "google is skynet". Can you please take a few minutes to reply and explain it to me. I Googled skynet and found a courier service. Hmmm?