Google Obtains Patent For "Driverless" Cars

A US patent for self-driving cars has been awarded to Google.

The intellectual rights relate to a method to switch a vehicle from a human-controlled mode into the state where it takes charge of the wheel.

It explains how the car would know when to take control, where it is located and which direction to drive in.

The search firm suggests the technology could be used to offer tours of tourist locations or to send faulty models to repair shops.

The application for Transitioning a Mixed-mode Vehicle to Autonomous Mode was applied for in May, but had been hidden from public view until this week.

The document describes using two sets of sensors. The first identifies a "landing strip" when the vehicle stops. This then triggers the second set which receives data informing the machine where it is positioned and where it should go.

This has several applications, from parking to sending your car to the mechanic while you are at work. For people who commute to work, their car could truly double as a mobile office while it handles the drive. As an intermediate step, it would be good to set in place while on the phone, eating, or other tasks that lead to accidents.

It's a ways off but not as far as we might think. The article is vague, but just for giggles I'll say in 2015 we will have a car that can handle itself 80% of the time or more. Google makes perfect sense, with their superior mapping they have an edge, and they have set industry standards for this type of technology so they are building on their own foundation.