Google has been caught secretly testing their futuristic prototype, a self-driven car!  If anyone in and around the San Francisco to Los Angeles area has seen a Toyota Prius with a funnel cylinder on its roof driving around, you’ve seen it.  Google has done it again in the field of technologic awesomeness by creating cars with artificial intelligence — cars able to drive themselves in streets with normal ongoing traffic.  These cars are able to make real life “human” decisions and sense anything that occurs near the car.  The Google prototype has even been able to drive down Lombard Street in San Francisco, one of the steepest and curviest streets in the nation.  In fact, the only accident that occurred was when a Google car was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. Hah!

What do we think of cars with no drivers?  Can machines really make human decisions?  There is a lot of controversy regarding our increased reliance on technology and appetite for innovations … but think about it!  Google cars do not get distracted or sleepy, have 360 degree perception, reduce fuel consumption by staying within the speed limits, and with such reliable driving, un-manned cars could allow for double the capacity of the current number of cars on the road because they can safely drive closer to one another.

Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, and Dr. Thrun, a Google researcher, have not made a decision on whether or not to make a business out of these self-driving cars.  Why did they undertake such a project?  They say the that it is more of their optimistic commitment to make highways safer and lower the nation’s energy costs.

via: the new york times