SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State lawmakers are anticipating the day when self-driving vehicles navigate California's roads guided by radar and GPS systems instead of human hands on the steering wheel.

The state Senate approved a bill Monday that would establish safety and performance standards for what are known as "autonomous" vehicles.

SB1298 by Sen. Alex Padilla also would allow the self-guiding vehicles on streets and highways, as long as a licensed driver is aboard. The bill passed 37-0 and goes to the Assembly.

Padilla, a Democrat from Los Angeles, says the vehicles can reduce accidents caused by human error.

Nevada and Florida have enacted similar laws. Padilla's office says bills also are pending in Arizona, Hawaii and Oklahoma.

Credit: http://www.cbs47.tv/news/state/story/Senate-approves-regulations-for-self-driving-car/iPt73K2IbECo6GNJcy4BFQ.cspx

The self-driving car logs more miles on new wheels

August 7, 2012

Technology is at its best when it makes people’s lives better, and that’s precisely what we’re going for with our self-driving car project. We’re using advanced computer science to try and make driving safer and more enjoyable.

Our vehicles, of which about a dozen are on the road at any given time, have now completed more than 300,000 miles of testing. They’ve covered a wide range of traffic conditions, and there hasn’t been a single accident under computer control.

We’re encouraged by this progress, but there’s still a long road ahead. To provide the best experience we can, we’ll need to master snow-covered roadways, interpret temporary construction signals and handle other tricky situations that many drivers encounter. As a next step, members of the self-driving car team will soon start using the cars solo (rather than in pairs), for things like commuting to work. This is an important milestone, as it brings this technology one step closer to every commuter. One day we hope this capability will enable people to be more productive in their cars. For now, our team members will remain in the driver’s seats and will take back control if needed.

And while these team members are commuting, many of them will be testing our algorithms on a new type of vehicle we’ve added to the self-driving car family over the past few months to help us refine our systems in different environments and on different terrain: the Lexus RX450h.

With each breakthrough we feel more optimistic about delivering this technology to people and dramatically improving their driving experience. We’ll see you on the road!

Posted by Chris Urmson, Engineering Lead

Credit: http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-self-driving-car-logs-more-miles-on.html

[size=5]Self-Driving Cars Approved By California Legislature[/size]

In California, it's illegal to talk on a cell phone handset while driving your car. The reasoning is pretty simple: with one hand glued to your smartphone, not only are you distracted chatting about what happened on last night's episode of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," but you also only have one hand to hold the wheel.

But what if you were sitting in your car and didn't actually have to drive? What if all you had to pay attention to was getting to the next level in Angry Birds?

The California state legislature just moved that dream a little closer to reality by approving a bill paving the way for driverless cars to be allowed on Golden State freeways.

The bill, authored by State Senator Alex Padilla (D-Van Nuys), was passed by the state Assembly on Wednesday and then given the overwhelming thumbs up by the state Senate the following day.

If signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Padilla's bill would legally allow autonomous vehicles on the road and charge the state's Department of Motor Vehicles with determining the standards for self-driving cars, rules which current do not exist under the present vehicle code.

The Economist notes that about 90 percent of traffic accidents are caused by human error, meaning that if humans are taken out of the process, there's a strong probably that accident rates will plummet.

Even so, the bill requires the cars to have a flesh-and-blood human being behind the wheel if something goes wrong.

"It sounds space age, but it's almost here," Padilla told the San Jose Mercury News. "If we can reduce the number of accidents, that alone is worth doing this bill."

Bay Area tech giant Google has been leading the way in self-driving cars. The team behind the project asserts that the technology is largely already there and their self-driving cars are ready to hit the road right now.

Earlier this year, Google took a number of state legislators on a test non-drive of their driverless cars.

"I had the pleasure of going out for a drive on the autonomous vehicle," California state Senator Alan Lowenthal told Reuters. "I have to say that there are some still issues with it, but it's a better driver than I am."

Earlier this week, Google engineers announced that their fleet of self-driving cars have logged a combined total of 300,000 miles.

Despite the bill's widespread political support, some quarters have voiced reservations, particularly over what happens if driverless cars crash and lawsuits are filed. "This does not protect adequately the manufacturers for liability concerns," Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Dan Gage told the Mercury News.

California is the second state to pass legislation addressing self-driving cars; Nevada passed a law last year. In May, Nevada's DMV issued the country's first license plate to one of Google's self-driving Priuses.

Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma are all also considering similar legislation.

Credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/self-driving-cars_n_1845018.html

[size=5]California moves closer to having self-driving cars on the road, as State Senator authorises bill[/size]

[size=1]The future is upon us and it is making tracks in California.[/size]

[size=1]Following the success of Nevada's bill to allow self-driving cars the Golden State has been pushing its own through, this week bringing the space age vehicles to almost within grasp.[/size]

[size=1]Not far behind in the technology race are it Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma where similar legislation is also being considered.[/size]

Where's the driver?! You could soon be climbing into your very own Batmobile

[size=1]Authorised by State Senator Alex Padilla, the bill paving the way for driver-less cars got approval from the state Senate on Thursday.[/size]

[size=1]It brings the long awaited dream of fully automatic cars that bit closer to reality, with just one final hurdle to cross.[/size]

[size=1]Standing between you and your real-life Batmobile is Governor Jerry Brown, whose signature is needed to legally allow autonomous vehicles on the road.[/size]

[size=1]There's a strong argument behind Padilla's case.[/size]

[size=1]According to the [/size][size=1]Huffington Post[/size][size=1], around 90 per cent of all traffic accidents are the result of human error and experts hope that by taking humans out of the equation that number would drop significantly.[/size]

[size=1]If it goes through the bill will charge the state's Department of Motor Vehicles with setting standards for self-driving cars, since such rules do not currently exist.[/size]

Following the success of Nevada's bill to allow self-driving cars the Golden State has been pushing its own through, this week bringing the space age vehicles to almost within grasp

[size=1]Among them would be that although the car will be controlling itself there must be a person behind the wheel of the car for just in case something goes wrong. [/size]

[size=1]'It sounds space age, but it's almost here,' Padilla told the San Jose Mercury News. 'If we can reduce the number of accidents, that alone is worth doing this bill.'[/size]

[size=1]The concept of the driverless-car has long been debated, with Bay Area tech giant Google leading the way in their design. [/size]

[size=1]Teams behind the futuristic inventions say that the cars are 'ready to hit the road right now' and state legislators have been out on test (non) drives already.[/size]

[size=1]Engineers announced earlier this week that their collection of self-drivers have clocked up a total of 300,000 miles. [/size]

[size=1]Senator Alan Lowenthal described his test drive as 'a pleasure', adding that 'it's a better driver than I am.'[/size]

[size=1]There are some concerns however, in particular over what would happen in the case of a crash-provoked lawsuit. [/size]

[size=1]'This does not protect adequately the manufacturers for liability concerns,' Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Dan Gage told the Mercury News.[/size]

[size=1]And then of course there are those who fear what might happen if robots gain too much power.[/size]

[size=1]For now, though, it is looking positive for the Golden State, behind Nevada where a law was passed last year.[/size]

[size=1]There the DMV issued the country's first license plate to a self-driving Prius in May. [/size]

Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2197292/California-moves-closer-having-self-driving-cars-road-State-Senator-authorises-bill.html?ito=feeds-newsxml