In this post, I’m going to discuss Uber’s move for autonomous vehicles. I know that I have previously written about both separately, comparing Uber to Lyft and discussing Self-Driving Cars, but today it is interesting to see how these will combine and grow. I will outline what Uber is doing, explain the new technological advancements, and discuss my opinions about this choice. So let’s get started.
What Uber is Doing
Lately, Uber has decided to purchase 24,000 Volvos that can drive themselves. Previously, self-driving cars were around in places such as Pittsburgh, but with a driver in case of emergency. The Washington Post discusses how the XC90 purchases will be delivered between 2019 and 2021. If you think about it, a car company is selling cars to Uber who wants to do away with personal cars. Ironic, right? Another important topic is that these vehicles will take people’s jobs. Currently Uber states that the job loss would not be dramatic, with only 24,000 cars.
Tech Advancements
According to Uber’s Engineering Department, a program has been created, so they can see what the car is seeing and make any necessary fixes. Also, an important advancement is the use of the web for the speedy transfer of information to the engineers. The worldwide accessibility would allow them to work remotely. The vehicle creates a virtual world from what it sees and uses that data for future drives. From the information the vehicle collects, it must act accordingly. Overall, this is a revolutionary advancement and hopefully will increase the safety of these vehicles because previously, an Uber Volvo was involved in an accident which is further discussed by Wired.
My Opinon
I personally am not a big fan of this. To begin, I feel these vehicles need more testing away from highways and roads. If one malfunctions, anyone could be at danger without knowing. This new technological advancement may be more profitable for the company, but the jobs that would be lost would cause a great impact. I know that I would not want to ride in these new cars with the current testing occurring. I feel that this new technology would be great if it had a few more years of testing, but without it, I am not sold on the safety aspects. To further your research about this topic, Click Here. Also, if you want to know whether it is more cost effective to use Uber or have your own car, visit Fast Company or use the calculator from Ride or Drive for this determination.