Google Car (self) drives into the future [w/video]

After years of speculation, Google finally announced its Google Car autonomous vehicle at the Recode Code Conference in Palos Verdes, CA yesterday.

Google CEO Sergey Brin unveiled the company's new two-seat, driverless vehicle at the software conference, underlining the company's aim of drastically reducing road deaths and injuries caused by human error, particularly by distracted drivers.

"We're now exploring what fully self-driving vehicles would look like by building some prototypes; they'll be designed to operate safely and autonomously without requiring human intervention," said Brin. "They won't have a steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brake pedal... because they don't need them. Our software and sensors do all the work. The vehicles will be very basic – we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible – but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button. And that's an important step toward improving road safety and transforming mobility for millions of people."

Up until this point, Google has been testing its autonomous systems with modified conventional cars (the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX predominantly, which have clocked up over 700,000 autonomous miles). Yesterday's announcement of the company's own, ground-up 'car' – developed by the tech giant's Google X skunkworks operation – marks a huge step towards the end product, expected to be in widespread public use some time between 2017 and 2020. A breakthrough in software development has given the company confidence that its vehicles are now smart enough to no longer require human intervention.

100 prototypes are to be built and trialled later this year, albeit with familiar controls on understandable safety grounds.

"Just imagine: You can take a trip downtown at lunchtime without a 20-minute buffer to find parking," said an accompanying Google blog post. "Seniors can keep their freedom even if they can’t keep their car keys. And drunk and distracted driving? History."

This is undoubtedly a large step towards the autonomous future we've been promised for so long, and all credit should be given to Google for taking the lead. Despite car companies (notably Toyota, GM and Nissan) running their own trials and prototypes, there's a sense of nervousness from these relatively conservative companies that appears to be holding them back. However, the counterpoint is that what appears to be lacking from Google's admittedly early attempt is the level of design engagement – including aesthetics – that car design has at its core.

It's vital that design is seen as the key to engagement, acceptance and reassurance with these very exciting new types of vehicle.

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By Owen Ready