Google Expands Self-Driving Car Tests to Arizona
Google Inc. will begin testing some of its self-driving cars in the greater Phoenix, Ariz., area later this year.
Google Inc. will begin testing some of its self-driving cars in the greater Phoenix, Ariz., area later this year.
Google is using four specially equipped Lexus RX450h crossover/SUVs to create high-definition maps of Phoenix streets that include such details as lane markers, traffic signals and curb heights. This type of detailed information is needed for autonomous vehicles to operate.
The company says it chose Arizona as a test site to evaluate how the various sensors needed for automated driving functions perform in extreme temperatures and dusty desert conditions.
With a fleet of 200 prototype autonomous vehicles, Google has accumulated more than 1.5 million miles of real-world testing. It has been conducting such tests near its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., for nearly six years and recently expanded testing to Austin, Tex., and Kirkland, Wash.
RELATED CONTENT
-
GM Develops a New Electrical Platform
GM engineers create a better electrical architecture that can handle the ever-increasing needs of vehicle systems
-
Choosing the Right Fasteners for Automotive
PennEngineering makes hundreds of different fasteners for the automotive industry with standard and custom products as well as automated assembly solutions. Discover how they’re used and how to select the right one. (Sponsored Content)
-
Robotic Exoskeleton Amplifies Human Strength
The Sarcos Guardian XO Max full-body, all-electric exoskeleton features strength amplification of up to 20 to 1, making 200 pounds—the suit’s upper limit—feel like 10 pounds for the user.