Uber Vice President Brian McClendon said the company doesn’t have a time frame for when its self-driving cars will hit the road.
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Uber’s ambitions in the self-driving auto space took a step forward today – the company just announced a partnership with the University of Arizona that will see the university become the home of Uber’s mapping test vehicles.
The company will make a $25,000 donation to the college.
“Uber and the UA have agreed to work together on educational, workforce development, and research efforts in optics, engineering, and education for the benefit of both parties and for that of Southern Arizona”, Hart stated in the press release. Uber’s human-operated vehicles that map streets will be driving around Tucson starting in September. The company announced its partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in February to create the Uber Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh, which was set up for the research and development of mapping and vehicle safety as well as autonomy technology. The Verge points out that some of the department’s top ranking people now work for Uber, including six out of eight of NREC’s commercialization specialists, and Anthony Stentz, the center’s director for the past four and a half years.
Earlier this year, Uber bought deCarta, whose mapping and location services have been used in cars made by GM and Ford.
McClendon wouldn’t elaborate on how many Uber employees would be working with university researchers but said he considers this a long-term collaboration. Details of the agreement are yet to be finalized but common areas of interest and expertise include mapping and autonomous or “self-driving” technology.
Gov. Doug Ducey speaking at the signing of the deal between the UA College of Optical Sciences and tech company Uber.
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Gov. Doug Ducey hailed the new partnership because it can benefit all Arizonans though new jobs, research opportunities, and transportation options.
