It’s hard to say when this will actually be on the roads, but it’s the first step towards that.
On Monday, Google unveiled what it terms as “the first real build” of its self-driving car prototype.
The company had previously unveiled an early mockup in May that lacked features such as real headlights. Since then, the vehicle has gone through different builds with typical “car” parts like steering and braking, as well as the “self-driving” parts like the computer and sensors being added on. The company has finally assembled a fully functional prototype for fully autonomous driving.
Google has stated that it will be driving the prototype around its test track and they hope to have it on the streets of Northern California in 2015. Their safety drivers will continue to oversee the vehicle for a while longer, using temporary manual controls as needed, as they continue to test and learn.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.