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Google Unveils New Self-Driving Car Prototype

Posted by samzenpus on from the drive-off-into-the-sunset dept.

colinneagle writes In May, Google released a teaser image showing a mock-up of the autonomous vehicle it planned to build. Today, the company followed up with an image showing the finished product. Google says the first edition of its self-made self-driving car will feature "temporary manual controls as needed while we continue to test and learn." When Google introduced its prototype back in May, the company claimed its self-driving cars "won't have a steering wheel, accelerator pad, or brake pedal because they don't need them." Apparently, it still has yet to reach that point. The development is an important step forward for Google's driverless car efforts, which have been deemed impractical by many of late. Last year, the Financial Times reported that Google had difficulty finding manufacturing partners that would build vehicles featuring the self-driving capabilities used in its Prius. In that light, maybe Google's willingness to build its own hardware just to get the technology on the road means that its self-driving car team knows something the rest of the industry doesn't."

4 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. The Oatmeal Review by SydShamino · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Oatmeal posted a review of the car and state of Google's technology in general:
    http://theoatmeal.com/blog/goo...

    --
    It doesn't hurt to be nice.
  2. controls by technical_maven · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, the controls were added because of a California state law requirement for them, not because Goggle thought they were necessary...

  3. Butt Ugly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why Google? WHY? Why does every manufacturer of cutting edge vehicles, like EVs, have to make them so damned ugly? Why can't we get a car flavored car?

    1. Re:Butt Ugly by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 5, Informative

      Electric vehicle range is hugely affected by aerodynamic drag, particularly a highway speeds. What looks aerodynamic is surprisingly unrelated to the drag coefficient. So modern car designers do things to actually improve drag, which seem weird and ugly to you.

      The Ferrari F40, a triumph of car design in the late 80s, has a drag coefficient of 0.34. The Koenigsegg CCX has a Cd of 0.30. A 2001 Toyota Camry has a Cd of 0.29. And my Nissan Leaf has a Cd of 0.28.

      My most notably odd feature on the Leaf is the big bug eye headlights. At highway speeds, those headlights create a bubble of low pressure around the side view mirrors, significantly decreasing drag. I'm a function over form kind of guy, so I think it's awesome.