Big news on the automated vehicle front yesterday, as Google and Uber now seem destined to become competitors in the battle for the future of transportation.
"Google is preparing to offer its own ride-hailing service, most likely in conjunction with its long-in-development driverless car project," reports Brad Stone. The news comes as a surprise given Google Ventures' $258 million investment in Uber back in August 2013. If the report is true, Google and Uber could potentially become fierce competitors in the future transportation market.
According to Stone, David Drummond, Google’s chief legal officer and senior vice president of corporate development, has informed the Uber board of Google's plans. According to Stone's reportage, "Uber executives have seen screenshots of what appears to be a Google ride-sharing app that is currently being used by Google employees."
In related news, John Biggs reported that Uber is partnering with Carnegie Mellon on a robotics research lab in Pittsburgh. Uber published a blog post later in the day confirming Biggs's scoop. According to the post, "[the] partnership will provide a forum for Uber technology leaders to work closely with CMU faculty, staff, and students — both on campus and at the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) — to do research and development, primarily in the areas of mapping and vehicle safety and autonomy technology."
For additional commentary on the developing story, Timothy B. Lee adds his take on why Google is making a push into self-driving rental car technology.
FULL STORY: Exclusive: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor
Just Arrived: The First Federal Safety Guidelines for Automated Vehicles
It's a big day for the future of automated vehicles. Federal safety regulators gave first indication, not yet regulations, of how they expect automated vehicles to behave when they hit the road en masse.
Uber Bails on Autonomous Vehicles
One of the highest-profile, and most legally fraught, efforts to beat the competition into the autonomous vehicles market is now defunct.
Failure of Automated Driving Technology Blamed for First Pedestrian Fatality
Experts who watched the videos taken by onboard cameras equipped in the Volvo SUV that hit Elaine Herzberg determined that Uber's automated driving system failed to perform adequately. The crash points to a need for regulations.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research