Google's Driver-less car

Google's driver-less car (Project by Google)

The Google driverless car is a project by Google that involves developing technology for autonomous cars. The project is currently being led by Google engineer Sebastian Thrun, director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and Co-inventor of Google Street View. They created robotic vehicle called "Stanley", which won DARPA Gard Challenge (Dirverless Vehicle Competition, held in America) and US $2 million as a price.

Very Challenging and tough task of driving through silicon valley on freeway 101 in busy Friday lunchtime traffic (in short very heavy traffic), Google's Chris Urmson flicks a witch on the steering wheel. A green light comes on to tell him and your correspondent in the passenger seat that the car will drive now itself. On each and every obstacle, Lexus(Toyota's car which is used as trial run) backs off smoothly, maintaining a sensible distance, then accelerates again once the road ahead is clear.

The idea of self-driving cars as a means of reducing accidents and congestion has been around for a long time. One of the most popular exhibits at the 1939 New York World's Fair was "Futurama", a depiction of a city cars controlled remotely by radio. And then DARAP, launched its Grand Challenges, offering prizes to driver-less cars that did best at navigating a tricky course. Mr. Urmson was a part of the winning team, Its main advantage over its rivals was that is had mapped course in fine details. 

The technology is already arriving in installments as car-makers introduce sophisticated "assisted driving" features as options, even on mass market models. European buyers of the Ford focus, a mid-sized car, can now leave it to drive itself and maintain a sage distance in steady traffic. The car can measure parking space and steer itself into it. It reads road sings and admonishes the driver if the breaks speed limit. Such gadgetry also increasingly makes decisions on the driver's behalf and overrules him in an emergency. For instance, breaking to avoid crash.

Other technologies are beginning to make this easier. First, the mechanical link between the controls and the working parts are progressively being replaced by electronic ones. Second, car now have a rudimentary version of "black box" data recorders to collect information on the moments just before an accident.

Safety-enhancing gadgets on cars tend to start out as optional extras, the get incorporated into "best practice" standards promoted by independent  bodies like EURO NCAP, and eventually are made compulsory. Ubiquitous black boxes in road vehicles will provide a mass of data likely to demonstrate the effectiveness of automated-driving features, which will prompt calls to make them obligatory.

Google's robotic test cars have about $150,000 in equipment including a $70,000 (laser radar, which is helpful to getting traffic density and all) system. There is on-going research and development. Further testing and low down the costing is the main aim and goal. This car may be available in upcoming 3 to 5 years.

Key Features:

• Automated car can read sign on the road
• Also useful if driver's speed limit is more then displayed
• This car can measure parking spaces
• Decision taking capabilities.
• Can fit with the traffic, adjust break smoothly and accelerate when clear road.

Working demo,