[Leica] IMG: Google Self-Driving Cars

[kanner at acm.org (Herbert Kanner)]

A new exhibit on Google?s self-driving cars has been installed at the 
Computer History Museum. This is the third of temporary exhibits in an area 
of the Museum they call the gallery. T

The first such exhibit, which lasted several years, was on the subject of 
computer chess. 

The second, provided by Google, was on Street View, and included both a car 
and a tricycle equipped with the Street View camera. 

The third, installed about a few weeks ago, was on Google?s self-driving 
cars, and included some history on self-driving vehicles, although I think 
they played a little loose with language and were really also including 
remote-controlled vehicles, because their is a submersible about the size of 
a torpedo and a small quadricopter hanging from the ceiling.

In conjunction with this exhibit opening, there were two evening events at 
the Museum to introduce the exhibit, one for staff and volunteers and 
another with fancier food and drinks for trustees and donors. I fit into 
both categories and hence attended both. At the one for donors, etc., the 
Futurama exhibit from General Motors at the 1939-1940 Worlds Fair in New 
York was mentioned as an instance of the prediction of self-driving cars. 
There was a lot of excitement when I mentioned that I HAD BEEN THERE.

In the course of one of these gatherings, there was some brief mention of 
Google giving rides in these cars, but I wasn?t paying attention. Then one 
Saturday, when I was working at the Museum for an hour in the afternoon, I 
discovered a lineup of four such cars in the driveway and inquired about 
rides. They claimed the the next day was the last and that if I got there in 
the morning, I might get a ride.

I did indeed. They restricted the ride to a stretch of a freeway, and the 
driver hand drove the car until he was on the freeway and the computer was 
happy. I got to sit in the front seat next to the driver, with a lap-top 
computer on my lap. This showed in stylized form what the car?s computer was 
seeing.

The program controlling the car was an older version which just knew how to 
stay in its lane and not hit the car in front. I guess they were willing to 
give public rides in this version which they claim had gone 600,000 miles 
without incident. Nevertheless, I had to sign a two-page waiver.

This shot is of the stand where one signed the waiver

This shot shows three of the cars lined up. A fourth car has just departed 
with its passengers.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/herbk1/L1003694.jpg.html


This is a closer view of a car. That cylinder on the roof is called a Lidar. 
It rotates ten times per second, sending out a light beam from a laser. It 
is simply an optical radar. Has higher resolution but less range than radar. 
There is also a radar behind the grill. Behind the right-hand sun visor are 
two cameras. When the car is programmed for street driving, they can 
identify all sorts of things, such as bikes, pedestrians, traffic lights and 
their color, stop signs, etc.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/herbk1/L1003698.jpg.html

These people are being photographed before embarking on their ride.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/herbk1/L1003701.jpg.html

There was general laughter when I shot this guy as he was shooting me.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/herbk1/L1003702.jpg.html

After the ride, I had to fill out a survey form, and was given this sticker 
to put on my shirt. It aroused much interest later that day in two 
restaurants.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/herbk1/P1010548.jpg.html


Herbert Kanner
kanner at acm.org
650-326-8204



Question authority and the authorities will question you.