Google developing autonomous vehicle technology [video]

Bored with snooping on your WiFi, Google has started developing autonomous vehicles (AVs).

As part of their mission to "solve really big problems using technology," the autonomous cars aim to make driving safer. Before an AV sets out, a manned vehicle maps the route and sends that information to the autonomous vehicle. After this is completed, the route is programmed into the AV and a series of sensors (video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder) help to guide the vehicle on the road. For safety sake, a driver and software operator monitor everything to ensure nothing goes wrong.  So far, the AVs have logged over 140,000 miles (225,308 km) with only one accident.

According to Google, "....more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in road traffic accidents. We believe our technology has the potential to cut that number, perhaps by as much as half."