Google unveils 'self driving' cars with no controls other than start button

Google is to start building “self driving” cars with no controls other than a start/stop button.

The technology giant is to create 100 test vehicles and described the project as “an important step toward improving road safety and transforming mobility for millions of people”.

It is planned that the two seater electric “robo cars” will have no steering wheels or brake and accelerator pedals and the only intervention that “drivers” can make is to start or stop. Google said testing showed it was safer to remove conventional controls altogether rather than keep a manual override.

However, the early prototypes will have controls so test drivers can take over if there is a glitch and also to comply with Californian road laws.

The cars will have a maximum speed of just 25 mph and are designed as local “runarounds” rather than for long distance journeys. It has a screen showing the route and an array of laser and radar sensors and camera data so the car’s computer can “see” its surroundings and react to changing circumstances such as a cyclist pulling out.

Other features include a soft foam like front end where the bumper would normally be and a flexible windscreen to reduce the risk of serious injuries to pedestrians in a collision.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin, revealing the plans in California earlier today, said the aim is for self-driving cars to be “significantly” safer than human-driven cars in a few years. He said that that the protoype cars had experienced no crashes during 700,000 miles of testing,

Chris Urmson, director of the company’s self-driving project said: “We’re really excited about this vehicle - it’s something that will allow us to really push the capabilities of self driving technology, and understand the limitations,

Google says it expects its self-drive cars to be on the road “within a year” and ready for public use between 2017 and 2020.

Other major motor companies including Nissan and General Motors have also said they expect self-driving cars on the road by 2020 while Ford has unveiled an early prototype.