Imagine a world where everyone could get around easily and safely, regardless of their ability to drive, where the elderly or handicapped wouldn’t have to surrender their independence, commuting would become less stressful, and traffic accidents would be significantly reduced. Google has turned this idea into a reality, and hopes to revolutionize the way we travel with their ‘self-driving cars project.’
In 2009, Google launched their self-driving car project, and began testing their driverless technology on modified Toyota Prius vehicles. By 2012, over 300,000 miles of testing had been completed, and Lexus RX450h vehicles were equipped with the driverless technology.
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In December 2014, the project took a huge leap when Google unveiled a fully-functional prototype for a completely autonomous vehicle, designed from the ground up to be self-driving. The vehicle lacks a steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal — just a blank interior for passengers to sit back and relax.
1. Sensors: lasers, radars, and cameras allow the car to detect objects in all directions
2. Computer: designed for self-driving
3. Electric Batteries: powers the vehicle
4. Back-Up Systems: manage steering, braking, computing, and more
5. Rounded Shape: maximize the sensor’s field of view
Similar to real drivers, the self-driving cars needs to address four basic questions:
Where am I? The vehicle uses maps and sensor information to determine where it is, from what street it’s on to which lane it’s in.
What’s around me? The sensors help to detect objects, and classifies them based on size, shape, and movement pattern.
What will happen next? The software predicts what the objects around the vehicle will do next.
What should I do? The software chooses the safest option for speed and trajectory of the vehicle.
Google self-driving cars have driven over 1 million miles, and only been involved in 15 accidents. Google prides itself in saying that all of them were the result of human error - not the driverless cars.
However this changed in February 2016 when one of Google’s self-driving vehicles attempted to avoid sandbags on the road. Though it avoided the sandbags, the maneuver caused the vehicle to crash into a bus. (pictured below)
Google releases monthly reports that include any traffic accidents their vehicles may have been involved in.
Google has pushed the limits of technology by transforming the way we travel. By exceeding the boundaries, it opens the doors for new technology, and sets a precedent for great future technological advancements.
© 2026 Jonathan Spear
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