VIDEO: This Sensor Attachment Turns Your Car into Semi Self-Driving One

Google's Planning to Change the World with its Cute Self-Driving Cars. Most Automakers are also Targeting around 2020 for When Self-Driving Cars will Start Becoming a Thing on the Road. They're Ambitious Plans which will No Doubt be Expensive at First. Cruise Automation Thinks it Can Kickstart the Self-Driving Car Movement with a Sensor that Allows Drivers to Give the Car Control of the Steering Wheel, Accelerator and Gas Pedals — with Limitations. Cruise Automation's Sensor is Called the Cruise RP-1 and it's an Aftermarket "Highway Autopilot" that will Sell for $10,000. It Won't actually Turn your Car into One that Chauffeurs you Around Town at the Click of a Button but, it will Take Some of the Dullness Out When you're Going Down the Highway. Think of it as Advanced Cruise Control.


"The RP-1 uses a combination of sensors, radar, and cameras to drive safely down the highway. Using advance computer vision and obstacle detection, the RP-1 keeps you in your lane and a safe distance from vehicles in front of you."




According to Cruise Automation's Website, the RP-1 will Alert you Via Audio and Visual Alerts if the Car Can't See the Lane Markings or Doubts What it Sees. Safety is its #1 Priority. While Cars Equipped with the RP-1 will be Legal to Use in California, Handing the Driving over to the Car Doesn't Mean the Driver Can just Sit Back and Take a Nap. (The Company Even Says on its Website that you Can't Text while the RP-1 Drives because it'd still be Against State and Federal Driving Laws. Go Figure.) Right Now, the Cruise RP-1 only Works with any 2012 or Newer Audi A4 and S4 but, CEO Kyle Vogt is Quick to Point Out that, his Company's Planning to Work with Other Carmakers, as well. Audi is just the Start. The Company's currently Taking Pre-Orders for 50 Initial Units that will be Delivered in 2015.




Info Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/06/23/startup-driverless-car-sensors-google

http://www.getcruise.com/technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEQqQj_zyHI