The US Is Going to Spend $4 Bln on Self-Driving Cars


01/15/2016

The US government wants to accelerate spread of unmanned vehicles by funding it with $ 4 billion. Firstly, it is about creating single-country rules for production and operation of unmanned vehicles, as well as development of programs for testing such vehicles.



On Thursday at the Detroit Motor Show, the US Transport Minister Anthony Foxx said that the US government wants to accelerate spread of unmanned vehicles. Within six months, the ministry should prepare new principles of "safe use of fully automated cars", common for the whole country. Guide inter alia must contain recommended performance curve and test methods for unmanned vehicles. According to Mr. Foxx, in 2017, the Obama administration is going to allocate $ 3.9 billion to implement a ten-year plan, which should accelerate spread of unmanned vehicles and their integration into the transport system of the United States. The plan involves working more closely with automakers, federal regulators and other players in the market of unmanned vehicles, as well as development of testing programs for "connected" unmanned vehicles, which will exchange information with each other to avoid accidents.

US officials say they want to encourage introduction of unmanned vehicles, what, according to officials, could reduce number of accidents on the roads, as well as a positive impact on the environment and transport efficiency. As stated by Mr. Foxx: "Unmanned vehicles offer opportunities to save lives, to save time and fuel. We are looking at automated cars with optimism." To enter into force, the proposal must be approved by the US Congress, however, it is not known when the plan will be adopted. The lack of clear rules and guidance from the regulators is one of the factors limiting spread of unmanned vehicles. According to experts, if they develop a single scheme for whole country, unmanned vehicles should speed up their appearance on the roads. "The fully automated vehicles are able to save lives, and we support the Minister’s efforts to remove barriers that may prevent exit of vehicles on the road, when they are ready for this" - said Google. Recall, Google was the first company to set up its own unmanned vehicle.

source: reuters.com