For a long time robot cars seemed like only something out of science fiction movies, however we are on the edge of those dreams becoming a reality. This past decade, technology has made leaps and bounds as to what was thought possible, and soon enough self driving cars will be here. Like all technological races, some competitors do it better than others. We are going to look at some companies who are leaders in the self-driving car industry; companies making self-driving cars a reality.
5. Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz has been working on self driving technology for some time, as there are already partially-automated driving systems found in some of their higher-end production vehicles. These systems already in place are an automated cruise-control systems using a variety of sensors and cameras. The company is also focusing on developing self-driving systems for trucks and has recently completed some testing with a driverless truck prototype. The company hopes to launch a self-driving truck by 2025 hoping to change the freight and transportation industry.
4. General Motors
General Motors is also taking steps to develop self driving automobiles for consumers. GM has a “Emerging Technologies” team whose job is it to develop and engineer these cars of the future. The company has a prototype vehicle called the Chevrolet EN-V which is an electric autonomous vehicle designed to “change urban driving and vehicles”. GM hopes to have partially-automated vehicles out this decade, while fully autonomous cars out next decade. GM is also planning to release the Cadillac CTS with “Super Cruise”, their semi-autonomous system in 2017.
3. BMW
German car manufacturer BMW is also a leader in self-driving vehicles. They have been performing self-driving test with semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles since 2005. The have a few prototype 5-series that are utilizing a self-driving system and have taken their vehicles at speeds over 80 mph. The company plans to continue to create and develop self-driving cars.
2. Audi
Audi, a subsidiary under the Volkswagen group, is also a leader of self-driving and autonomous vehicles. Four years ago in 2o10, a modified Audi prototype car was developed at Stanford University and the self-driving vehicle completed a 12.2 mile circuit racetrack in just 27 minutes. Audi has also been awarded a license to test automated cars on street roads in Nevada.
1. Google
While not a car company, Google has been forwarding the self-driving car industry for some time now. The recently have announced that they are producing 100 prototype vehicles that will be completely self-driving and autonomous and will not “require human intervention”. Google has already had some very promising tests with some self-driving vehicles that utilize a system of cameras and sensors. Rather than building a car, Google’s early test subjects would be regular cars outfitted with a self-driving system.
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