NZ Interface Magazine | Driving Miss DaisyBot 3000: Nevada legalises robotic cars

All Articles

Driving Miss DaisyBot 3000: Nevada legalises robotic cars

Comments |

Print |

When you think about things that are only legal in the state of Nevada, what first comes to mind? Self-driving cars, of course!

Nevadans, rejoice! The chore of having to operate a steering wheel while applying light pressure to one of two pedals could become a thing of the past, now that self-driving cars have been legalised in the state.

From 1 March innovators can apply for a robot driver's licence in Nevada, which comes complete with a snazzy red licence plate to show that the machine itself is in charge.

The move will benefit companies like Google, which has been testing robotic Priuses in California for some time. (One of Google's self-driving cars crashed for the first time last year – although the accident actually occurred when a human was driving).

From Singularity Hub:

Last June Governor Sandoval signed AB511 into law, making it explicitly legal for cars to drive themselves. That same bill, however, required the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to establish rules and regulations as to how companies would apply for permission to get their robotic vehicles on the road. As of February 15, those guidelines are now in place, and Nevada is ready to hand out red license plates to Google and other robotic car developers.

The benefits of having a car that can drive itself are manifold. Self-driving car owners can wave goodbye to leg-fatigue, sobriety, having to travel sitting up – even having to travel at all.

Why go to the supermarket yourself when the car can go for you? Picking up the kids from school will be a thing of the past – as long as they learn early enough to get in the right car.

Read more: The Guardian

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/feb/23/nevada-legalises-self-driving-cars-google

Comments