They're really not fucking around when it comes to these self driving cars. The luddite in me really appreciates that. I posted an article a while back about Delphi and Mobileye working together to create equipment for car companies who haven't gotten a head start in self driving tech. It's comparing apples, oranges, and watermelons but it'd be interesting to compare and contrast what Delphi anf Mobileye are doing that's different here. Their deep pockets alone would hint that they're building more advanced, reliable technology.
As well they should. KE = 1/2mv^2. m = two tons. v = 75mph. KE = 2.29 megajoules, =, according to Wolfram Alpha, about a pound of TNT. Wu Tang Clan ain't nuthin' to fuk wit. There are two approaches to autonomous vehicles: Google's and everyone else's. Google intends to map the world so precisely that they know about new potholes in realtime. Everyone else intends to hope they can come up with a robodriver capable of dealing with every other asshole on the road. Everyone else may beat Google out of the gate, but they will only serve to demonstrate that Google's approach is better. And by then, Google will have the maps.