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Uber to Launch Self-Driving Car Service
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In one of the first commercial applications of driverless cars, Uber recently announced its plans to introduce a self-driving car-sharing service in Pittsburgh later this month, under the supervision of two human drivers—one of whom will sit in the driver’s seat.
Customers in the downtown area can request a car  using the Uber app, as usual, and then will be matched at random with a driverless car, initially the custom Volvo SUV pictured at right. Uber has been road-testing the service in Pittsburgh since May. Initial trips will be free. |
“Safety drivers” (sitting in the driver’s seat) will keep their “fingertips on the wheel,” ready to take control in some situations, such as driving over bridges and in emergencies. The co-driver in the front passenger seat will take notes. Cameras will record everything, and a tablet computer in the back seat will keep customers apprised of ride details. The car is also equipped with dozens of sensors that use camera, lasers, radar and GPS receivers.
Volvo has delivered a few of the 100 cars so far, with the remainder due by the end of 2016. The two companies also signed an agreement to invest $300 million to develop a fully autonomous car ready for the road by 2021, and Uber officials announced that the company plans to partner with other car manufacturers.
Other companies exploring the widespread use of such vehicles include Google, Tesla Motors, Otto (a driverless truck startup) and Ford, which recently announced its plans for launching an autonomous ride-sharing service. In related news, officials in Helsinki, Finland, are testing a driverless mini-bus in city traffic through mid-September, and Mercedes-Benz is testing a self-driving bus on a BRT route in Amsterdam.
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