Nissan Leaf prototype becomes first autonomous car to hit Japanese highways (video)

Autonomous autos are somewhat old hat for commuters in California and Nevada, but Japan’s only just seen one hit its public roads. After earning a license plate in September, Nissan’s driverless (and electric) Leaf hit the pavement of the country’s Sagami Expressway, becoming the very first self-driving car to complete a public road test on a highway in the Land of the Rising Sun. The firm’s Autonomous Drive tech, which handles everything from detecting road conditions to merging into traffic, piloted the car onto the interstate, passed slowpokes and exited the freeway. Sure, this is a notable milestone for Nissan, but the company’s goal to sell autos with the technology by 2020 is still a long way off.

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Source: Nissan

California Governor Brown signs bill clearing use of driverless cars on public roads (video)

California Governor Brown signs bill clearing use of driverless cars on public roads video

Google just chalked up one of the more important victories for driverless cars. California Governor Jerry Brown has signed bill SB1298 into law, formalizing the legal permissions and safety standards needed to let automated vehicles cruise on state-owned roads. While the bill lets anyone move forward with their plans, it’s clear from the ceremony that local technology darling Google is the primary impetus for the measure: Brown visited Google’s Mountain View headquarters to put ink to paper, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin oversaw the signing with his Google Glass eyewear on full display. If you’re dying to see driverless vehicles become mainstays of the Golden State, the official act making that possible is already available to watch after the break.

Continue reading California Governor Brown signs bill clearing use of driverless cars on public roads (video)

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California Governor Brown signs bill clearing use of driverless cars on public roads (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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