Tag Archives: Cars

California Governor signs a bill bringing autonomous vehicles closer to reality

September 26, 2012Cars, News, Technology, Videoautonomous vehicles, bill, bill signing, Cars, Google, law, self-driving cars, Sergey Brin, state of CaliforniaScott Meisner

On Tuesday a bill was put into California law that creates a legal framework and operational safety standards for the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on state roads and highways. California Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill “SB1298” at Google HQ with Google’s Sergey Brin on hand to provide additional information regarding the development of self-driving cars.

Google has been working hard on making autonomous vehicles a reality for over two years now. Brin admits that there is “a long list” of issues to get through before such vehicles will be able to take over the road. His team must take into account every possible “eventuality” a car might experience on the road. He does promise, however, that an autonomous car will never speed through a red light. At the signing, a reporter asked if Google has plans to manufacture their own vehicles at some point. Brin responded by saying such plans are not in the works; Google is busy developing the technology to make cars drive themselves and talks are already underway with popular car manufacturers and they will implement Google’s tech when it’s ready for primetime. And then there’s the ultimate question: when can we expect to actually see and use these smart cars? “You can count on one hand the number of years until ordinary people can experience this,” teased Brin. With the law in place it’s only a matter of when, not if. The future is coming.

Watch the California Governor and the Google genius talk about the bill and the initiative behind it in the video embedded above. Brin gives his two cents around the 6 minute mark. And yes, he’s sporting his pet Project Glass.

[Via Google+)

Professional rally driver Ken Block stars in “The Hollywood Megamercial”

September 5, 2011EXPERIENCE, VideoCars, DC, Ken Block, racecar, rally driver, special effects, stunt driver, stunts, Universal StudiosScott Meisner

DC and Ken Block present Gymkhana FOUR: The Hollywood Megamercial. GYM4 surpasses the high-production style of Gymkhana TWO with even more spectacular effects shot in the backlots of Universal Studios, California. Filmed over the course of five days, director Ben Conrad (Zombieland and 30 Seconds or Less) and his team at Logan deliver a Hollywood caliber production complete with pyrotechnics, massive stunts and a series of unbelievable tricks. Featuring robotic sharks, deranged zombies, and a hilarious cameo by the Epic Meal Time guys, Ken Block and his Hybrid FunctionHoon Vehicle (H.F.H.V.) bring the magic of Hollywood and gymkhana together.

Gymkhana, according to everyone’s favorite source Wikipedia, is a type of motorsport whose “courses are often very complex and memorizing the course is a significant part of achieving a fast time.”

Get ready and hang tight, your mind will be blown.

[Via @kpereira]

Turbine Light illuminates roadways with wind-power

February 6, 2010Design, Images, TechnologyCars, concept, energy, green, highways, light, roadways, street lights, wind-poweredScott Meisner

From TAK Studio comes the latest innovation in green roadways–the attractive Turbine Light. Here’s how it works: These wind-powered lights line up highways and streets and illuminate when cars pass by them. If enough energy is generated by the passing cars, the lights will shine the path to your destination. Problem is, the keyword here is IF. Would such implementation promote faster driving? It would make sense for something like this to be installed in windy cities that already generate enough energy for illumination. For all the rest, what about solar powered lights, hm?

[Via Inhabitat; Gizmodo]