Self-driving cars are 'not even close': Head of Carnegie Mellon University robotics lab hits out at Uber (after it poached most of his department)

  • Herman Herman of CMU's robotics labs says driverless cars are not close
  • All the companies still need engineers to ride in the vehicle during tests
  • Companies have only figured out 80 percent of self-driving technology 
  • Uber says they want to replace human drivers as soon as possible  

Uber famously poached a third of Carnegie Mellon University’s robotics lab staff in 2015 in a bid to fulfill their mission for self-driving taxis.

Although the ride-sharing giant is among the many who believe driverless cars are just around the corner, the head of the university’s robotics lab thinks otherwise.

Herman Herman, named the group's new director after it was gutted, believes companies are 'technically' not ready because they still need engineers the in car - and says a true self driving service is 'not even close'.

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 Uber poached a third of Carnegie Mellon University¿s robotics lab staff in 2015. Although the ride-sharing giant is among the many big players in the industry who believe driverless cars are just around the corner, the head of the university¿s robotics lab thinks otherwise. Pictured is a concept drawing of Uber's self-driving cars

 Uber poached a third of Carnegie Mellon University’s robotics lab staff in 2015. Although the ride-sharing giant is among the many big players in the industry who believe driverless cars are just around the corner, the head of the university’s robotics lab thinks otherwise. Pictured is a concept drawing of Uber's self-driving cars

TRUTH ABOUT DRIVERLESS 

Herman Herman was named the new director of Carnegie Mellon University’s robotics lab after Uber took a third of the staff to its own researcher lab in 2015.

Herman told Motherboard that Uber may be talking about self-driving cars, but the firm is no where near the reality.

‘With autonomous cars, you see these videos from Google and Uber showing a car driving around, but people have not taken it past 80 percent,’ Herman told Jordan Pearson with Motherboard.

‘It’s one of those problems where it’s easy to get to the first 80 percent, but it’s incredibly difficult to solve the last 20 percent.’

‘For you or me to buy a car that can drive autonomously from point A to point B—it’s not even close.

Source: Motherboard 

‘With autonomous cars, you see these videos from Google and Uber showing a car driving around, but people have not taken it past 80 percent,’ Herman told Jordan Pearsonat Motherboard.

‘It’s one of those problems where it’s easy to get to the first 80 percent, but it’s incredibly difficult to solve the last 20 percent.’

‘For you or me to buy a car that can drive autonomously from point A to point B—it’s not even close.

‘There are fundamental problems that need to be solved.’

Herman stepped up as head of the lab after more than 40 of the 100 scientists, including the director, were taken to a new location by Uber to working on a fleet of driverless taxis, reports Motherboard.

Prior to Uber cleaning house, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) was well-known for its work with autonomous research.

In February 2015, the two struck a deal to focus on mapping and safety technologies to support Uber’s ride-sharing mission.

However, it only took three months before the California firm left the university in crisis by taking a third of its staff.

The robotics lab's funding was cut in half by the end of 2015, but recently Uber passed along a check for $5.5 million that could either be as a ‘thank you’ or ‘sorry’.

¿For you or me to buy a car that can drive autonomously from point A to point B¿it¿s not even close,' said Herman. 'There are fundamental problems that need to be solved.¿  Prior to Uber cleaning house, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) was well-known for its work with autonomous research

‘For you or me to buy a car that can drive autonomously from point A to point B—it’s not even close,' said Herman. 'There are fundamental problems that need to be solved.’  Prior to Uber cleaning house, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) was well-known for its work with autonomous research

UBER TO REPLACE HUMAN DRIVERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE 

Uber says the self-driving Volvo XC90 cars will have human backup drivers to begin with, but the move will surely worry the country's 327,000 Uber drivers who will eventually be replaced by autonomous vehicles.

Uber co-founder and chief executive officer Travis Kalanick has said that the company's goal is to replace human drivers with driverless vehicles as 'quickly as possible'.

The $300million Volvo deal will provide SUVs to Uber and see vehicles outfitted with cameras, lasers and sensors to help them navigate the city's streets.

An unspecified number of autonomous Ford Fusions will also pick up passengers.

The Volvo has 22 camera lenses, a laser on the roof and laser sensors at the corners.

Its cameras, sensors and laser can see more than 100 meters in all directions.

Herman told Pearson that the robotics lab bounced back since the failed partnership and now has 115 scientists working for the department.

They had ‘plenty of projects that were minimally affected’, he said,  but the group did have to cancel two projects they were working on.

Although Herman and his team were affected by the Uber’s controversial move, the ridesharing firm seems to be moving along with their plans.

This year, Uber’s souped up autonomous Ford cars were seen through around the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, CMU’s headquarters.

And most recently, the firm announced a partnership with Volvo.

In February 2015, the two struck a deal to focus on mapping and safety technologies to support Uber¿s ride-sharing mission. However, it only took three months before the California firm left the university in a ¿crisis¿ by taking a third of its staffUber says it will also start hauling passengers with self-driving Volvo CX90 cars. But the company said they will also have back-up drivers

In February 2015, the two struck a deal to focus on mapping and safety technologies to support Uber’s ride-sharing mission. However, it only took three months before the California firm left the university in a ‘crisis’ by taking a third of its staffUber says it will also start hauling passengers with self-driving Volvo CX90 cars. But the company said they will also have back-up drivers

THE RACE TO SELF DRIVING CARS: UBER'S COMPETITION

One of Google's self driving prototype 'bubble' cars

One of Google's self driving prototype 'bubble' cars

Google's self-driving car

In 2009, Google started the self-driving car project. 

The testing fleet includes both modified Lexus SUVs and new prototype vehicles that are designed from the ground up to be fully self-driving. 

Google's prototype two-seater 'bubble' cars have buttons to begin and end the drive, but no other controls.

An on-board computer uses data from sensors, including radar, a laser and cameras, to make turns and negotiate its way around pedestrians and other vehicles.

Under the vision unveiled by Google, passengers might set their destination by typing it into a map or using commands.

Apple's iCar

A concept video reveals ideas for a futuristic-looking Apple car, with a wide dashboard display and smart capabilities.

The video from ConceptsiPhone boasts that the 2020 vehicle design is 'more than a car,' with connectivity to other Apple devices.

The concept by Luca Wrede shows a build that mirrors the minimalist design common to Apple products.

A wraparound dashboard screen shows speed, traffic predictions, and answers calls.

The vehicle can pull up Apple Maps, Safari, and Siri, which are indicated all on the interactive dashboard.

The concept car can even connect to the Apple Watch. 

LEECo's LeSEE

China's LeEco has unveiled an electric autonomous vehicle that it says will surpass Tesla's Model S in 'all aspects of performance'.

Dubbed LeSEE, the sleek pearly white sedan has memory foam seats, Knight Rider-style voice activation, an automatic driving mode and a steering wheel that folds toward the dash when the car is set to autopilot.

This futuristic concept car was engineered to be a 'smart', 'connected' and 'automated self-driving car' and the firm hopes it will set the stage for a fleet of autonomous taxis. 

General Motors announced a $500 million investment in Lyft earlier this year, as a joint effort to develop a fleet of self-driving taxis. GM and Lyft plans for a testing program on public roads by 2017. The program will use Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis and 'included customers in a yet-to-be disclosed city'

Although Uber's competitor Lyft stated it is dabbling in self-driving taxis, it won't have anything to show for it until next year. The program will use Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis and 'included customers in a yet-to-be disclosed city'

General Motors & Lyft's autonomous Taxis

General Motors announced a $500 million investment in Lyft earlier this year as a joint effort to develop a fleet of self-driving taxis.

Although the idea seemed like a distant dream, the duo has announced plans for a testing program on public roads by 2017.

The program will use Chevrolet Bolt electric taxis and 'include real customers in a yet-to-be disclosed city'.  

In addition to the testing program, Lyft is working on a new app that will be used for the autonomous cars. 

The app is still a prototype, but will list the option for an autonomous car and there is a GM OnStar assistant to answer questions or report issues while you're en route to your destination. 

Uber says the self-driving Volvo XC90 cars will have human backup drivers to begin with, but the ultimate goal is to replace human drivers with driverless vehicles as 'quickly as possible', said Uber co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick.

This will involve Uber adding its own self-developed autonomous driving systems to the Volvo base vehicle.

Volvo will use the same base vehicle for the next stage of its own autonomous car strategy, which will involve fully autonomous driving. 

‘Technically, I’m not sure if it’s ready,’ explained Herman.

‘They still have to have engineers in the car.

So, for technical reasons, it’s not there.’

‘But for non-technical reasons, they decided that it’s a good idea to start talking about it.’ 

 

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