Autonomous cars are beginning to sweep across the US, despite a few PR disasters cropping up over time. Companies like Uber, Google, and even GM are all testing self-driving vehicles in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and now Washington, DC.
Autonomous cars are beginning to sweep across the US, despite a few PR disasters cropping up over time. Companies like Uber, Google, and even GM are all testing self-driving vehicles in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and now Washington, DC.
As reported by The Verge, carmaker Ford announced today that it’s partnered with Argo to test self-driving vehicles throughout DC beginning in 2019. Though Ford is perhaps best known for its heavy-duty pickup trucks, it sounds like the company will be using ordinary cars for its tests.
Ford’s approach to autonomous car testing seems to be a bit safer than some of its competitors. Instead of having one mostly hands-off driver, Ford will require all of its self-driving cars to have a company safety driver and a « second engineer » in the vehicle at all times. Eventually, if the technology becomes mature enough, Ford hopes to lift those restrictions.
The most interesting aspect of Ford’s DC-based testing is the company’s emphasis on « equitable deployment. » Unlike other companies which traditionally test their vehicles in safer, more well-off areas, Ford wants to send its fleet of cars out throughout the entirety of DC – even in impoverished areas.
« Whether it’s transportation to work where they didn’t have that ability in the past, or actually operating businesses in those areas that could help other businesses grow, » Ford’s autonomous vehicle chief Sherif Marakby said in a statement to The Verge. « Those are the factors that could help the people that live in those areas. »
With a little luck and a lot of testing across the country, Ford could launch its own automated taxi and delivery services within the next few years.
