It seems that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), the search engine giant is tired of its dominance over the internet, that it has started making inroads in to the auto industry.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) recently announced to several hundred engineers that it was looking to develop driverless cars, and that it was sure that this would be possible because it had already tried out the technology. The cars using the technology will not need drivers since computers will be in charge of driving the car. Google’s drive less car project manager, added that the internet giant would soon be making public the technology that would enable this, some time in the coming year.
However, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is also looking to partner with one of the major auto makers in order to see the project become a success. The reason for partnering with a car maker firm was so that Google would not have to make cars, rather they would only deal with the technology aspect of it.
Some of the major auto makers that have been touted as potential partners of the giant internet firm include General Motors, as well as Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (TYO:7203). This is since these are some of the main cars makers in the world that often use technology in their vehicles in order to increase performance and safety.
The main reason why Google is making a foray in to the auto industry is due to the fact that most car accidents- around 90%- are usually caused by human error as well as lack of judgment on the part of the driver. Additionally, annual car crashes usually cost around $200 billion in deaths, hospital costs, and also damages to vehicles. Therefore, the main motivation for Google to dab a hand in car making is so that the rate of accidental deaths and injuries may reduce.
Vehicles that will be created from Google’s self drive technology will use video cameras, laser ranger finders- which will act as the eyes, radar sensors, and maps that will be detailed and which will also be used to navigate the cars. In fact, the maps will be drawn manually so that they can be as accurate as possible.
Therefore, Google together with the auto maker that they may partner with like General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) or Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (TYO:7203) will need to use large amounts of data in order to ensure that the cars run smoothly, and do not cause accidents.
In tests carried out by the giant firm, prototypes of the self driving cars have travelled a distance of over 350 miles. This is because the cars travelled from Google’s Mountain View Campus, down the winding San Francisco Lombard Street; they then crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, down the twisty Pacific Coast Highway, and in to Google’s office in Santa Monica.
Therefore, the self driving cars that Google is dreaming off, may be a reality in the near future. It is the reason the giant company is looking for partners; suppliers, and auto makers such as General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) , so that this technology that may save millions of lives every year, may become a reality sooner rather than later.
