Although we likely won’t see driverless cars on the roads for at least another decade or two, there’s a chance that the first driverless cars we do see will be electric. Bloomberg reports that Tesla CEO Elon Musk “has talked with Google about the self-driving technology it’s been developing, though he prefers to think of applications that are more like an airplane’s autopilot system.” While Musk has been impressed with what Google has done with driverless cars so far, he did say that the company’s current approach of using sensors is “too expensive” and that “it’s better to have an optical system, basically cameras with software that is able to figure out what’s going on just by looking at things.” Musk said that Tesla would work on its own autopilot system for its cars, although he provided no information about when Tesla’s own system would be ready for road tests.
Apple had better hope that its investments in iOS Maps yield some major improvements if it hopes to push its much-maligned mapping application into more automobiles. Unnamed sources tell 9to5Mac that Apple “plans to move aggressively into the in-car integration space later this year” and “is working with car makers to deeply embed iOS’s Maps and Siri services into cars.” Essentially, Apple wants to give drivers the ability to plug their iPhones into their cars and have them deliver turn-by-turn directions through a combination of Siri and iOS Maps, thus giving users a safer hands-free navigation option. All of which sounds good until you remember that Apple’s mapping application still has major issues, and it has even been blamed for stranding tourists in the Australian outback after they followed a set of faulty iOS Maps directions.
Google has been testing a fleet of autonomous vehicles on U.S. roadways for quite some time now, and other companies such as Mercedes-Benz are adding more advanced technology to aid drivers. We now have cars that can automatically stop, parallel park themselves and even detect when another car is in a blind spot. Google executives have previously said that they would like to see self-driving vehicles on the road within three to five years, however it may not happen that quickly. Industry experts believe that by 2020, car computers will handle much of the work when traveling at high speeds and five years later, we could finally see fully autonomous vehicles arrive “in meaningful numbers.” More →
“Unnerving” is the word Forbes’ Detroit bureau chief chose to describe her trip in one of Google’s (GOOG) famous driverless cars, and we can’t blame her. In a recent article, Joann Muller detailed her ride-along in a driverless car with Google’s Chris Urmson, head of the team currently tasked with building the systems that may guide automobiles of the future. While the $65,000 laser sensor on the roof and the $35,000 worth of additional technology packed into Google’s driverless cars is remarkably advanced, it apparently isn’t easy to trust a computer to respond to all of the crazy things human drivers do behind the wheel. More →
The potential of Google’s (GOOG) driverless cars is very enticing. Not only would they likely drastically reduce accident rates in the United States but they could also allow drivers to play Minecraft on their tablets during morning commutes. But how long will it take for this potentially revolutionary technology to be useable by actual drivers? Bloomberg reports that Google thinks it can get the job done within the next three to five years. More →
While driverless cars could be huge, there a lot of very important issues to be addressed before we start seeing them rule the roadways. The Wall Street Journal on Monday outlined one of the most important problems with driverless cars that has yet to be worked out: That is, if a driverless car gets in an accident, who is liable for the damage? Even in states where driverless cars are already on the road, the Journal has found that lawmakers have largely punted on figuring out liability issues. California and Florida, for instance, have only passed bills that instruct their Registries of Motor Vehicles to come up with rules for driverless cars over the next year or two. More →
Apple (AAPL) may not be the most valuable over company in the world anymore, but it’s still by far the most valuable tech company, as its market cap of around $416 billion easily tops Google’s (GOOG) $248 billion valuation and Microsoft’s (MSFT) $233 billion valuation. Over at Forbes, Chunka Mui makes an interesting case that Google’s investment in driverless car technology will be an absolute goldmine for the company in the coming years that could even vault it past its rivals in Cupertino. More →
NFC is becoming more prevalent in the mobile space. The technology has been featured in a number of smartphones and tablets from manufacturers such as Samsung (005930), Motorola, Nokia (NOK) and Research in Motion (RIMM), among others. The possibilities with NFC appear to be endless, from mobile payments and wireless sharing to one day even controlling our vehicles. South Korean automaker Hyundai (005380) recently announced plans to incorporate the technology into its vehicles in the next few years. The company’s new Connectivity Concept will allow drivers to control various aspects of their car with an NFC-equipped smartphone. More →
It’s not the mythical iCar, but it’ll suffice for drivers who have long dreamed of talking to their car. General Motors (GM) announced on Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Auto Show it will be the first of nine automakers to integrate Apple’s (AAPL) “Eyes Free” feature that adds one-button Siri functionality from the car’s steering wheel. The first cars with Siri integration will be the Chevrolet Sonic LTZ and RS as well as the Spark 1LT and 2LT. More →
Google (GOOG) is investing heavily in its self-driving car program and beginning in January, the deputy director at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be leaving his government job to join the company. Ron Medford will join Google as the director of safety for self-driving cars and bring with him more than 40 years of experience, The Detroit News reported. Google has been testing its autonomous vehicles on public roadways in Nevada and California, and has logged more than 300,000 accident-free miles. The company’s co-founder Sergey Brin predicted that autonomous vehicles will be available to consumers within a decade, although Google has no plans to commercially produce its own vehicles. More →
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will allow autonomous vehicles such as Google’s (GOOG) to be tested on California roads, the Associated Press reported. As a precautionary measure, the law requires a licensed individual to be in the driver’s seat at all times to take over control if need be. “Today we’re looking at science fiction becoming tomorrow’s reality — the self-driving car,” Brown said while signing the bill at Google’s Mountain View headquarters. “Anyone who gets inside a car and finds out the car is driving will be a little skittish, but they’ll get over it.” More →
Using a variety of sensors and cameras, a number of high-end vehicles available today offer autonomous cruise control, advanced emergency braking systems and self-parking technology. While Google’s (GOOG) dreams of fully autonomous vehicles may still be far off, crash-proof cars may be the next big thing. The on-board sensors used in today’s vehicles do not have the ability to communicate with the road or other automobiles, but a couple of weeks ago, a year-long connected-vehicle program hit the streets in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More →
