Uber confirms testing of a driverless hybrid Ford Fusion

Driver-less or self-driving cars sound cool, but at the same time a little scary, considering nobody is sitting on the driver seat. Love it or hate it, this will be an inevitable future, especially for taxi services. Google has been testing and working around this sector for some time and now we have an official confirmation that Uber has started doing the same in the US.

We have been hearing about Uber’s keen interest in autonomous cars and it’s Advance Technology Centre in Pittsburgh, but the latest news confirms the fact that the company is actually testing a self-driving car on the roads. The vehicle is a hybrid, Ford Fusion, which doesn’t need a driver (although there is one to take control if needed) and will be able to pick up rides on its own. Uber gave permission to Tribune-Review journalist Aaron Aupperlee to take a ride and he claims that “The car’s sensors detected parked cars sticking out into traffic, jaywalkers, bicyclists, and a goose crossing River Avenue.” Sounds like progress.

Apart from testing its self-driving capabilities, the car collects data for maps and is equipped with a variety of sensors including radars, laser scanners, and high resolution cameras to map details of the environment, said Uber.

The official press release sent out by the company said that this project could help saving lives since 1.3 million people die every year in car accidents out of which 94 percent involve human error. Uber also said that they are in the early stages and while they have produced some good results, you won’t be seeing a driver-less Uber any time soon .