The two will collaborate on autonomous drive technologies, including a fully autonomous auto that Uber intends to use in its alternative taxi fleet….
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Uber, which has a research centre in Pittsburgh, will by the end of this month begin a pilot programme in which trusted Uber customers will be able to use their phones to summon a self-driving vehicle for use in a downtown Pittsburgh, according to a source with knowledge of Uber’s plans.
The Silicon Valley company also announced on Thursday that it is working together with Swedish carmaker Volvo on self-driving cars, signing a $300m (£230m) deal.
The joint interment will provide funds for sensor and hardware research, as well as the software required to spot obstacles and drive the vehicle.
Uber and Volvo have teamed up to create a self-driving taxi service that will be available for the public to try later this month.
The cab booking app is preparing to trial the self-driving vehicles for the first time on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the coming weeks.
Uber also recently acquired a self-driving startup created by several former Google autonomous vehicle researchers called Otto that has developed technology allowing big rigs to drive themselves.
The Uber-Volvo partnership will allow them to pool resources into initially developing the autonomous driving capabilities of Volvo’s flagship XC90 SUV model.
Use of the backup drivers is also an acknowledgement that current self-driving systems can not handle the wide range of unexpected circumstances on public roads. Standing at a bus stop, Anthony Fielder of the suburb of Carnegie was open to the idea.
Carone expects that the competitors of Uber will now accelerate self-driving tests or merger plans.
The auto company has pledged to mass-produce “fully autonomous vehicles in commercial operation for a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service beginning in 2021”.
According to reports by Bloomberg, Uber has invested $300 million on autonomous development. The Ford autonomous cars will only be used by car-sharing services and will not be sold to individuals.
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Over the long-term, Uber and rivals such as Lyft could cut the cost of paying drivers if they can gradually incorporate self-driving cars into their fleets. Both companies will design autonomous vehicles on their own.
