'Human drivers will eventually be out of a job'
http://electrek.co/2016/05/18/self-driving-chevy-bolt-ev-prototypes-san-francisco/ A fleet of self-driving Chevy Bolt EV prototypes are currently on the streets of San Francisco [2016/05/18] Fred Lambert [images https://electrek.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/2017-chevrolet-boltev-013-e1463590035489.jpg?w=1024&h=0#038;h=497 https://electrek.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/bolt-self-driving-rig-e1463590746162.png (roof shot w/ lidar sensors) https://electrek.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/bolt-self-driving-rig-2-e1463590728142.png video https://youtu.be/uEQqQj_zyHI ] Earlier this month, it was revealed that GM and Lyft are partnering to test a fleet of self-driving electric taxis [ http://electrek.co/2016/05/05/lyft-reportedly-planning-to-pilot-self-driving-chevy-bolt-taxis-within-a-year/ ] sometime within the next year in an undisclosed city. Now we learn that the city in question is San Francisco as the first few vehicles, Chevy Bolt EVs with a sensor suite on top, have been spotted in the city. In March, GM acquired self-driving car start-up Cruise Automation [ http://electrek.co/2016/03/11/gm-self-driving-car-cruise-automation-twitch-tesla/ ] in an attempt to accelerate its self-driving technology program, which is arguably far behind industry leaders like Google, Tesla or Mercedes. Kyle Vogt, the founder and CEO of Cruise Automation who is best known for being one of the co-founders of the streaming website Twitch, was spotted in the driver seat of one of the self-driving prototypes in San Francisco – a spy photographer sent a few shots to AutoBlog [ http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/18/autonomous-chevy-bolt-ev-spy-photo/?ncid=edlinkusauto00000015 ]. At least one of the prototype was simply a plain white Bolt EV with a sensor suite rigged on top, while another prototype spotted had a camouflage wrap, but also appeared to be a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV. GM seems to be testing two different sensor suites since the camouflaged Bolt didn’t seem to be equipped with what appears to be a trifocal camera setup on the white prototype: Both systems feature lidar sensors. The program is expected to result in customer trials relatively soon. From our earlier report: Details of this plan are still “being worked out,” according to the report, but it is said to give customers “the opportunity to opt in or out of the pilot when hailing a Lyft car from the company’s mobile app.” There’s no word on where the program will take place, with WSJ saying it will be “in a yet-to-be disclosed city.” Lyft is said to be starting the program with drivers in the front seat, but that — assuming legal hurdles can be navigated — human drivers will eventually be out of a job. Prior to being acquired by GM for reportedly over $1 billion, Cruise Automation was working on an aftermarket self-driving system for highway driving. The first prototype sensor suite, called RP-1, included two stereo cameras, a 77 GHz radar and 10 axis inertial measurement units. There’s no word on when GM and Lyft plan to introduce a fully self-driving service, but it looks like GM’s SuperCruise, a highway driving system similar to Tesla’s Autopilot, is closer to market [ http://electrek.co/2016/05/10/gm-supercruise-tesla-autopilot/ ]. [© electrek.co] ... http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkiley5/2016/05/19/why-gms-autonomous-chevrolet-bolt-is-running-around-san-francisco/#505ab27d44b1 Why GM's Autonomous Chevrolet Bolt is Running Around San Francisco MAY 19, 2016 The two Chevrolet Bolt Electric vehicles running around San Francsico streets have gear and sensors strapped to the roof, the tell-tale sign of autonomous ... http://blogs-images.forbes.com/davidkiley5/files/2016/05/bolt3.jpg http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/techflash/2016/05/fight-over-self-driving-car-startup-gm-bought-for.html Fight over self-driving car startup GM bought for $1B is settled May 19, 2016 Cruise Automation and General Motors reportedly can move ahead with their self-driving car plans without a founder fight hanging over them anymore ... For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-GM-Bolt-Lyft-Electric-auton-taxi-test-fleet-in-SF-area-CA-tp4682125.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
