Tech
California bans Uber self-driving cars, says they drive like jerks
Uber’s robots drive like jerks, according to California regulators who have called for the company to stop carrying customers in self-driving cars.
When Uber rolled out its self-driving Volvo SUVs in California, it did so without the necessary permits. And then Uber’s self-driving cars ran red lights, and were recorded doing so.
After Uber hired a team of robotics researchers from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh became the first city where Uber tested driverless cars. These converted Ford Fusions carry a massive array of sensors, unlike the stripped-down array sported by the Uber Volvos in San Francisco.
Read also: Free internet safety resources launched in Nigeria
In a blog post published before the videos appeared, Uber defended its choice to put driverless cars on the streets before getting full permitting.
“Finally, we understand that there is a debate over whether or not we need a testing permit to launch self-driving Ubers in San Francisco. We have looked at this issue carefully and we don’t believe we do. Before you think, “there they go again” let us take a moment to explain: First, we are not planning to operate any differently than in Pittsburgh, where our pilot has been running successfully for several months. Second, the rules apply to cars that can drive without someone controlling or monitoring them. For us, it’s still early days and our cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them”, the company said.
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