Interesting news coming from Uber as the taxi service is rolling out autonomous vehicles to test in Pittsburgh this month. Autonomous driving is one of the recent automotive driving features that has taken the world by storm and now that it is being brought in as a taxi service makes the technology just that much more valuable. The modified Volvo XC90 SUV is to be Uber's test ride.
A great part of the test drive is that they will be free and tablets in the back seat will inform the commuter of what the vehicle is capable of doing. For safety a human in the driver's seat will be supervising the trip and acting as a co-pilot as it is a legal requirement.
Since 2014 Uber has been working towards its self-driving ambitions and this is a big step in the right direction. Hundreds of engineers, roboticists, and mechanics at Uber have been working hard to make it all possible.
As for now though, full autonomy for Uber's vehicles is a bit away. An engineer is to keep their hands close to the steering wheel until a sound will notify the driver when to take the wheel. In time, self driving cars will be able to replace Uber's one million plus human drivers.
Volvo has a $300 million agreement with Uber to make a fully autonomous vehicle by 2021.