Google begins reporting robocar wrecks - CNET
Google has launched a website devoted to its robocars that, among other things, reports accidents involving the vehicles. The website , launched Friday, will provide information on any accidents without revealing the identity of the human drivers who are required by law to ride along in the cars. The site also provides a general overview of Google's robocar program and how the vehicles behave and adapt in daily traffic. During Google's shareholder meeting Wednesday , company co-founder Sergey Brin had still insisted on keeping this information private to protect the human drivers involved in the accidents. Google's change regarding accident reporting indicates that the company has taken seriously the demand of consumer-advocacy groups for more transparency. The monthly report for May also highlights how the cars are, in general, overly cautious and able to predict and avoid accidents in conditions where human drivers can't. Google's prototype vehicles will leave their initial test phase in the rear-view mirror this summer and take to the public roadways of the company's hometown of Mountain View, Calif. Major automakers from Ford to Audi to Nissan have all been experimenting with autonomous vehicles, and many standard-issue models are now equipped with robotic skills including lane control and collision control and the ability to parallel-park... Source: www.cnet.com
