Uber Uber was founded in 2009 has had unprecedented
Ford Fusions. The models were kitted out with
success across the world, becoming synonymous
20 cameras, seven lasers, LiDAR, radar and GPS.
with taxi services. At first, Uber concentrated
In October 2016, Uber began testing autonomous
on ride sharing and car hailing, connecting
cars in San Francisco. Last month, the company
customers in need of a ride with Uber drivers via
sent 16 licensed, autonomous Volvo SUVs on
a smartphone app. By the summer of 2016, Uber’s
excursions around the city. Uber may stand out as
services were available in 545 cities worldwide.
a huge success story, but it hasn’t all been plain
In the last few years, Uber has pursued an
sailing for the transportation giant. The California
aggressive business strategy. The company now
Department of Motor Vehicles later retracted the
offers services ranging from on-demand meal
licenses for the SUVs after they demonstrated
provision (Uber Eats) to parcel delivery (Uber
bad driving practises like running red lights and
Offers). Naturally, the business has taken a keen
ignoring cycle lanes. Uber is now at loggerheads
interest in autonomous cars. In 2015, Uber and
with the organisation and has refused to comply.
Carnegie Mellon University teamed up to create the Uber Advanced Technologies Centre. Based in Pittsburgh the aim of the facility was to develop a fleet of self-driving cars. By September, Uber had released their own fleet of 14 self-driving
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