TMCnet News
Florida looks to get ahead of curve on driverless carsFeb 09, 2012 (The Orlando Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Florida Rep. Jeff Brandes hopped into a special Toyota Prius recently and rode down Interstate 10 during a break from the Legislative session in Tallahassee. Not a big deal, except no one was actually driving. No human, that is. A Google-fueled concoction of technology guided the car at up to 70 mph around other cars, up and down hills and around corners, said Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. "I pressed the button," he said, "and the car took over. It drove better than I did." Brandes is shepherding a bill (HB 1207) through the House that calls for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to study what rules are needed to ensure the safe operation of so-called "autonomous vehicles." The report would be due in 2014. Florida is the second state with legislative interest, following Nevada, which last year passed a law that would issue driver's licenses allowing autonomous cars to operate in the state. The Senate sponsor of companion bill, (SB 1768), Joe Negron, R-Palm City, said the point is to "make sure we as a state are ahead of the curve." When Florida will hit that curve, though, is an open question. Jay Nancarrow, Google's communications manager, said it would be premature to speculate when the work being done by his company might be available to motorists. "It's too early to discuss," said Nancarrow, who also would not offer an estimate of how much Google has spent on the experiment. What is known is that Google has been working on a driverless car for several years and so far has racked up about 200,000 miles on test drives. According to a blog written by Sebastian Thrun, a Google software engineer, the company started looking into the concept to improve the safety and efficiency of the nation's streets and highways. "Our goal is to help prevent traffic accidents, free up people's time and reduce carbon emissions by fundamentally changing car use," wrote Thrun, part of Google's autonomous auto team. The Google Prius uses a video camera, radar sensors and a laser range finder, combined with a detailed video map of the route to be travelled. All the data are run through Google computers to direct the car, Thrun's blog says. Nancarrow likens the experience to driving with cruise control. If the person in the driver's seat wants to take over, all it takes is a tap of the brakes or a nudge of the wheel. The Google technology appears to be different from the systems showcased by automakers in Orlando last fall at the Orange County Convention Center. Those driverless demonstrations relied on devices on the car with a monitoring range of about a quarter-mile. They read signals sent out from other equipped cars and from sensors at traffic lights or stop signs. Google cars do not need ground-based sensors, but they do rely on recording the route before it is driven. The video is taken in a similar way as for Google Earth maps, with company vehicles driving about and recording virtually everything in sight. According to research by staff of the Legislature, BMW, Audi and Volvo also are pursuing similar technology. Negron, who might take a ride on the Google Prius if it returns to Tallahassee, said he really "wants to better understand the technology ... I want to see where the technology is and can it help us." Brandes said he believes it could lead to a reduction in accidents and vehicles using roads more proficiently. That would have the effect of adding lanes without the expense and aggravation of construction, he said. "We could double or triple our infrastructure [capacity]," he said. [email protected] or 407-420-5444. ___ (c)2012 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |