Uber Starting A Robotics Research Center to Develop Self-Driving Cars

 Self Driving Cars  

Driver-on-demand service Uber is building a robotics research lab in Pittsburgh, near Carnegie Mellon University to “kickstart autonomous taxi fleet development.”

Uber is reportedly starting up a research center in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to “kickstart autonomous taxi fleet development,” sources close to the decision have informed TechCrunch. The strategic partnership includes the creation of the Uber Advanced Technologies Center, near the CMU campus.

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"The center will focus on the development of key long-term technologies that advance Uber’s mission of bringing safe, reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere," the company posted on its blog.

Uber is hiring more than fifty senior scientists from Carnegie Mellon as well as from the National Robotics Engineering Center, a CMU-affiliated research entity say insiders.

Carnegie Mellon, is well-known for its robotics research.  According to one source, Uber has “cleaned out” the Robotics Institute, reports Tech Crunch.

"When there is no other dude in the car, the cost of taking an Uber anywhere is cheaper. Even on a road trip."

"Uber is a rapidly growing company known for its innovative technology that is radically improving access to transportation for millions of global citizens," stated Andrew Moore, Dean of the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University. "CMU is renowned for innovations that transform lives. We look forward to partnering with Uber as they build out the Advanced Technologies Center and to working together on real-world applications, which offer very interesting new challenges at the intersections of technology, mobility, and human interactions."

Uber the driver-on-demand service, has raised more than $4 billion since its 2010 launch, has already announced that it plans to replace its drivers with autonomous vehicles.

Acccording to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick “The reason Uber could be expensive is you’re paying for the other dude in the car,” Kalanick told Business Insider. “When there is no other dude in the car, the cost of taking an Uber anywhere is cheaper. Even on a road trip.”


SOURCE  Tech Crunch

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