This article is more than 1 year old

Californians get first chance to be run over by a Google robot

'Driverless' autos unleashed on Golden State's public roads

A number of Google's self-driving car prototypes are expected to leave the Chocolate Factory's test track this summer and head out onto some of the public roads around Mountain View, California.

The world's largest ad broker said the robocars had undergone "rigorous testing" to ensure the software and sensors work.

However, they will not be the first prototypes to be let out on the road. Last week, the Chocolate Factory admitted 11 of its self-driving cars have been involved in minor traffic accidents since it began experimenting with the technology six years ago.

The new prototypes will come loaded with the same software used by Google's existing fleet of self-driving Lexus RX450h SUVs.

The ad giant has logged nearly one million autonomous miles to date, and it claimed to have recently been clocking up 10,000 miles a week.

Each prototype’s speed will be capped at 25mph and will have safety drivers aboard.

"We’re looking forward to learning how the community perceives and interacts with the vehicles, and to uncovering challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle – eg where it should stop if it can’t stop at its exact destination due to construction or congestion," said the Chocolate Factory in a blog post.

In Blighty, driverless cars can also be legally tested on the roads – providing there is a "test driver".

Former business secretary Vince Cable claimed that the £19m government-funded droidcar projects underway in Greenwich, Bristol, Milton Keynes and Coventry will contribute to a "£900bn industry by 2025". ®

More about

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like