Smart cars - so people can eat, read or sleep on their way to work?!An unusual motorcade made its way across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge early one morning last week: a silver Toyota Prius, complete with police escort and camera crew, but with no driver at the wheel.
The robotic Prius was the invention of Anthony Levandowski, 28, a computer engineer who lives in San Francisco, works in Silicon Valley, and built the so-called "Pribot" in his spare time.
"Some people like to work on hot rods, boats, or airplanes," Levandowski said afterward. "I love robots."
Pribot's real-world test started on September 7 at Pier 7, a nondescript slice of San Francisco's often-foggy waterfront, around 7:30 a.m. The autonomous vehicle drove along the Embarcadero, took a right on Harrison Street, turned onto the bridge itself, and exited at Treasure Island.
The result? Years of hard work paid off. No little old ladies were run off the road. Pribot's trek, Levandowski said, took place without incident, save the car scraping its left side as it drove up the ramp exiting the Bay Bridge.
This was far from his first experiment with self-guided vehicles. As a student at the University of California at Berkeley in 2004, Levandowski was part of a graduate student team that created a robotic motorcycle called Ghostrider to enter DARPA's Grand Challenge.
I was on a Darpa Grand Challenge team and I met Levandowski's crew at the semi-final and talked to them about their entry - the robotic motorcycle Ghostrider. Extremely sharp but laid back. Most of the teams had nice lay outs and coiffed, scripted talks for the press roaming around. When I visited the Ghostrider bay they were all greased up from eating BBQ chicken wings w/ one guy cold asleep.Astronuc said:Robotic Prius takes itself for a spin around SF
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10042320-76.html
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"Some people like to work on hot rods, boats, or airplanes," Levandowski said afterward. "I love robots."
A Robotic Prius is a self-driving car that utilizes advanced robotics technology to navigate and operate without the need for human intervention.
The Robotic Prius uses a combination of sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence algorithms to sense its environment, make decisions, and control its movements. It also relies on high-precision mapping and GPS technology to navigate its route.
Yes, the Robotic Prius undergoes rigorous testing and has multiple safety measures in place to ensure its safe operation. It also constantly monitors its surroundings and can make split-second decisions to avoid accidents.
The Robotic Prius is designed to provide a more efficient and convenient mode of transportation. It can reduce human error and increase overall road safety, as well as reduce traffic congestion and emissions.
The Robotic Prius is currently only being tested and used in specific locations, such as the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge. However, as technology advances and regulations are put in place, it may become more widely available in the future.