During his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced a proposal in the FY17 budget for a $4 billion investment to accelerate the development and adoption ofautonomous vehicles through real-world testing.
MORE ARTICLES
NASA partners with Nissan on self-driving cars
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx provided additional details in agovernment press release, which notes that the investment would be spread over 10 years and aims to "accelerate the development and adoption of safe vehicle automation through real-world pilot projects." Foxx also announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is removing any 'potential roadblocks to the integration of innovative, transformational automotive technology that can significantly improve safety, mobility, and sustainability.'
"We are on the cusp of a new era in automotive technology with enormous potential to save lives, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transform mobility for the American people," said Secretary Foxx. "Today’s actions and those we will pursue in the coming months will provide the foundation and the path forward for manufacturers, state officials, and consumers to use new technologies and achieve their full safety potential."
As part of the initiative, pilot programs would test connected vehicle systems in designated corridors throughout the country, and work with industry leaders to ensure a common framework for connected and autonomous vehicles. Additionally, Foxx unveiled policy guidance that updates the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2013 preliminary policy statement on autonomous vehicles to reflect the notion that deployment of autonomous vehicles is now possible.
"NHTSA is using all of its available tools to accelerate the deployment of technologies that can eliminate 94 percent of fatal crashes involving human error," said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. "We will work with state partners toward creating a consistent national policy on these innovations, provide options now and into the future for manufacturers seeking to deploy autonomous vehicles, and keep our safety mission paramount at every stage."
One major rumor involving the development of driverless cars involves Google, a company whose scope has expanded dramatically in recent years to include such technologies as robotics, machine learning, advanced image processing, and 3D imaging, just to name a few.
Google, according to various rumors,is in talks with Ford to collaborate on the development of autonomous cars. Yahoo Autos, which cited three sources familiar with the plans, said: "Google and Ford will create a joint venture to build self-driving vehicles with Google's technology, a huge step by both companies toward a new business of automated ride sharing."
No major announcement, however, was made at the Consumer Electronics show, but Yahoo Tech reports that the two companies are still in talks, with a proposed division of labor that would see Ford develop hardware and software relevant to the cars themselves, with Google adding its autonomous driving systems. It was also reported that Ford may be considering the addition of a separate business unit to develop autonomous cars for ride sharing services and fleets.
Some of the other companies working on the technology include Nissan and NASA (including a recent successfultest drive), Carnegie Mellon and Uber, Delphi, Tesla, and AdasWorks and ThyssenKupp Presta Hungary.
Within six months, The Department of Transportation will work with industry and other stakeholders to develop guidance on the safe deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles, as well as work with state partners, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, and other stakeholders to develop a model state policy on automated vehicles that offers a path to consistent national policy.
Pictured: Google self-driving car
For further information, view theDOT press release.
Share your vision-related news by contactingJames Carroll, Senior Web Editor, Vision Systems Design
To receive news like this in your inbox,click here.
Join ourLinkedIn group | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter
