Google’s Self-Driving Car Program Reaches 2 Million Miles
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Google’s self-driving car program marked more than 2 million miles driven on public roads, a significant lap around traditional auto makers’ efforts to develop autonomous vehicles.
Alphabet Inc.’s car program had nearly 60 self-driving vehicles on roads in four states as of August, collecting real-world experience as it learns to navigate the complex world of humans.
Google argues the city-driving experience of its fleet is much more valuable than just highway time, providing opportunities to learn how to handle construction zones, bicyclists’ hand gestures and police cars. Google’s cars, loaded with cameras and sensors, are also gathering a greater array of detailed data.
It has taken a little more than a year for the program to go from one million to 2 million miles. In that time, the field of autonomous driving has changed dramatically, suggesting a new era for transportation is about to emerge.
IHS Markit estimates global sales of autonomous vehicles will reach 21 million in 2035, while Boston Consulting Group estimates sales of autonomous features will generate $77 billion that year.
Google’s autonomous-car project began 7 ½ years ago, and the company still hasn’t said when it might begin giving rides to the public or detailed its business strategy for the technology. Google has taken a vocal role in advocating public policy for self-driving technology and argues full autonomy is a safer path than incremental advances that still require a human to take control.
The 2 million miles Google cars have traveled represent 300 years of road experience, a Google representative said, and that doesn’t include the 3 million miles driven each day in simulators. Google doubled the number of autonomous miles it drives each week to about 25,000 compared with a year ago. It notes the average human driver travels 13,000 miles a year.
Alphabet Inc.’s car program had nearly 60 self-driving vehicles on roads in four states as of August, collecting real-world experience as it learns to navigate the complex world of humans.
Google argues the city-driving experience of its fleet is much more valuable than just highway time, providing opportunities to learn how to handle construction zones, bicyclists’ hand gestures and police cars. Google’s cars, loaded with cameras and sensors, are also gathering a greater array of detailed data.
It has taken a little more than a year for the program to go from one million to 2 million miles. In that time, the field of autonomous driving has changed dramatically, suggesting a new era for transportation is about to emerge.
IHS Markit estimates global sales of autonomous vehicles will reach 21 million in 2035, while Boston Consulting Group estimates sales of autonomous features will generate $77 billion that year.
Google’s autonomous-car project began 7 ½ years ago, and the company still hasn’t said when it might begin giving rides to the public or detailed its business strategy for the technology. Google has taken a vocal role in advocating public policy for self-driving technology and argues full autonomy is a safer path than incremental advances that still require a human to take control.
The 2 million miles Google cars have traveled represent 300 years of road experience, a Google representative said, and that doesn’t include the 3 million miles driven each day in simulators. Google doubled the number of autonomous miles it drives each week to about 25,000 compared with a year ago. It notes the average human driver travels 13,000 miles a year.
