Self-Driving Car Test: Steve Mahan (Audio Described)

This video is audio described for the visually-impaired. The original version can be found here: • Self-Driving Car Test:...
We announced our self-driving car project in 2010 to make driving safer, more enjoyable, and more efficient. Having safely completed over 200,000 miles of computer-led driving, we wanted to share one of our favorite moments. Here's Steve, who joined us for a special drive on a carefully programmed route to experience being behind the wheel in a whole new way. We organized this test as a technical experiment, but we think it's also a promising look at what autonomous technology may one day deliver if rigorous technology and safety standards can be met.
Music: The Album Leaf - "We Need Help"

[@Hesham_Haggag]

I want one, i am a cancer survivor and can't see so well anymore, this is so cool Thanks

[@dixiemason7021]

I'm getting older (Hey, yea, I know some of you think 71 is old, but ask any one my age and older and they will tell you I'm still YOUNG); any way, This kind of car would really be an enormous help for elderly people, especially those of us who have children who think we are to old to drive, for one reason or the other, and some of us really aren't safe drivers ! I look forward to them becoming as common on the road as paved roads are in a city. No wonder I KNOW Google is the best !!

[@me1td0wn366]

That has come a long way!

[@MsAussie83]

I wonder, if I ever have one of these cars, would I be able to take it to the airport? How would I be able to tell which car is mine? Would these cars have Braille on the side?

[@explorerSG1]

Absolutely marvelous invention. Safer driving roads is more likely to occur, and less problems for the older drivers in their later years.

[@MasterThreepwood]

I read about this in WIRED magazine, and thought it sounded good. As a child of the 80's, I realize that this sort of thing was science fiction thirty years ago, and yet here it is, a reality. Keep up the great work on the self-driving car Google :D

[@CybershamanX]

Is it just me or did anybody else wonder why the car parked at an angle when it came back to the guy's house? Other than that...simply awesome. :) Can't wait for self driving cars to be standard on the roads. :D

[@ceedee6161]

as a legally blind person i find this really exciting, hell just as any sort of person I find this really exciting

[@ryanwerder2915]

How are you typing this

[@matthewvealey8573]

E

[@matthewvealey8573]

Eishadiaz09

[@matthewvealey8573]

Ryan Werder

[@yolasantibanez1018]

@@matthewvealey8573 8ū

[@antifuturist]

Ha - I just watched the whole thing not realizing it was Audio described. At times I thought it was a bit odd but it made everything really clear. It only dawned on me when it said "He waves his cane as he walks inside."

[@redxsage]

I prefer this version, with the narration. Thanks!

[@kevinchampion9557]

redxsage open

[@vergilkicksass]

It would be up to the creators of the cars programming to decide situations like that, and it would probably be whatever causes the least amount of damage. It may not run into a car if the car is running or if a human is near by. The way one car could tell if another is running is through radio signals.

[@curryn2]

so does this mean we don't have to worry about getting any tickets?

[@salutemeorsh00tme]

@subbuktek Uhh, no lol. The primary reason is fairly commonplace crashes that choke up a shoulder or more lanes of the highway. Another primary reason is that we're still using a traffic prediction system for our stoplights that's been unchanged since the '50s. Automated cars would sure help out with both reaction time and commonality of crashes, but reaction time is pretty minor in the scheme of things.

[@DeadEyeDeadOn]

I like how the visually impaired were taught better grammar and spelling than most people that can see perfectly. Especially on KZbin and Facebook.

[@pablo4]

If you drink and drive that car, does it still count at drunk driving

[@amanie1226]

This is a beautiful Creation and advancement in technology. This gives us blind people the chance and opportunity to Go wherever we want whenever we want without depending on others or public transportation. I am a full-time college student pursuing a degree in psychology and education and I would love to have one of these vehicles sooner than later. I can just imagine driving to school, lol And the look on peoples faces when they see a blind person driving. :)

[@BaldingEagle51]

Just wondering why the music is there. Wouldn't the listeners of this video benefit from hearing the recorded audio so they know what's going on? Maybe a good suggestion for next video?

[@The1Chinchilla]

I? So? Want one! I'm totally blind and have dreamed of a self-driving car since I didn't pass the Guide Dogs' For The Blind interview in 2006! I see myself cranking up some jazz and taking people like family on rides to wherever they need to go. I see myself helping out more than I do now and I see myself driving to CVS to get my own medication! Please continue this cool idea! I call dibs on the first one and I'll name him Dominic after a google employee! LOL! Chela Robles jazz trumpeter

[@DesignDomination]

May I use a small part of this video and the one with audio description to demonstrate what an audio description is? It's for a course I'm creating.

[@iKingRPG]

Yes

[@eliziariosantos]

Your car alread have a lot of computers, and you probably already have a car with fly by wire. Most jetliners nowadays also are controlled by flybywire, so, even if a pilot is actually flying the plane, he is not acting directly upon hydraulic atuators, but his commands go through a processing engine. Lots of refineries, chemical factories, nuclear power plants are controlled by computers most of the time, and this has DECREASED the number of accidents.

[@IronIsMyLife]

The only thing that concerns me about this, is what would that car do in a situation out of which there is no solution. Say a drunk driver swerves toward you, swerving away would cause you to hit another say parked car, but at least you would suffer less damage, would a human perform better in such cases than a computer?

[@joffa42]

It's not. The guys behind it (Sebastian Thrun etc) won the DARPA challenge a while back.

[@Sinnsat]

How does the software behave in non-standard situations? What's the rate of software malfunctions/oddities? Who to blame in case of a car accident?

[@ivlfounder]

I never want to be anywhere near a car that's drive can be hacked. That be said this is a wonderful video.

[@unkn0wn8510]

well its nice to see the future options that disabled ppl have to look forward to.... and the narration for the blind was a great idea :)

[@BSinnett]

Being blind, I've wanted this kind of stuff since I was a kid. I can't wait to test it out for myself!

[@ashir555]

Wow, wow, wow. This is AMAZING. I wish I could use a car like this some day. I don't dream about going to space or walking the moon: I have a dream about not having to drive (I'm a terrible driver and most of the time I scared to dead about run over someone or having a crash) but still being able to use a car. Since late 90's when I saw a special program on TV about cars being guided by magnets buried on the asphalt I wish this could become mainstream, real, posible, not just a dream.

[@iKingRPG]

Tesla model 3

[@DannleChannel]

I'm not sure about cost, but Google's had these driving around LA for a few years, and they've never been in an accident. They're better drivers than people. One did wreck one time, but it was when a Google employee was driving, somewhat ironically.

[@leroydaman3]

Here's a legitimate question. If the car speeds and gets pulled over who will get the ticket?

[@TerrySimmonsMTL2267]

I guess I mean feasible in that everyone would want one or could afford one. Wonder how expensive they are to make? How reliable would they be (i.e. what if it malfunctions?) I think it's a great idea. I don't know how many times I have wished I could just flip a switch and put my car into autopilot! Especially on those long drives. :-)

[@madjunir]

my mom is not blind , but she already wants one. this reminds me of irobot. This will probably become standard one day.

[@annettamiller1465]

This is very cool .I would love to have a car like that because I quit driving when hit by two teenagers in a sports car and I was in a ford mid size van. She hit me so hard that I spun around and hit head on to a telephone pole. It handicapped me to the point a few years later I was in a wheelchair..THAT IS WHY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE CARS SO I COULD BE MORE INDEPENDENT SINCE I AM NOT IN THE WHEELCHAIR NOW...

[@Joeelii]

Thats such a great step for people like Steve. Hope google's vision can become a reality.

[@danwat1234]

No, it is operated completely by the computer. It can drive all by itself

[@jonenat]

There's something like that already on the market. It's called "Pay Pass" from MasterCard. Imagine having a chip like that imbedded under the front fender or something. The car drives up to the drive-thru. As you place your order a radio receiver in the order verifier takes in your card information. Money is deducted from your account after the clerk verifies that the system is deducting your own money. (You wouldn't want to pay for someone else's lunch unknowingly)

[@phildofactor1]

I think this is awesome. Just think this vehicle could put the ambulance chasers out of business. No more accidents. I admit I like to drive fast but as I get older my reaction time is a lot less than it was 30 years ago. I really like this car it could get me and my family to destinations safe.

[@CombsDeserts]

This is just an amazing technology. Just awe inspiring. No doubt, this car can be a better driver than a human, but the first unavoidable accident will cause trust for this technology to plummet.

[@carterpape]

It's funny; I watched this video without the audio description and totally missed out on the fact that they parked in a handicapped parking space until the narrator said it.

[@salutemeorsh00tme]

@ashir555 Yeah I know you didn't say they were better substitutes, but you certainly were implying that they were perfect substitutes since you were saying that the solution is as simple as using an alternative. Would you switch to DOS from Win7 (or OSX or whatever) if Microsoft/Apple/etc. implemented an update you didn't like? Probably not. Have you seen how good Google is compared to Bing or Yahoo? When a company holds a virtual monopoly over a market, it becomes quite difficult to switch.

[@Zenolijo]

This has been possible for so long, good that someone makes it because it's frickin' awesome!

[@ivanardila]

When I was a kid I thought "it will come true one day". This is that day. God bless you. Imagine racing cars! LOL.

[@Cr8tiveSWEET]

This is amazing, literally awesome....if that's even an appropriate word to use....

[@dinateresaserafimteresa7615]

Boa diá

[@Tuesday_is_gone]

Oh Man, Google really destroys peoples' ambitions. When I took this class called Machine Learning, I wanted to achieve this one day but apparently Google has done it first. I will definitely participate in it. I'm applying for a job at Google soon and I will do my best to work on this project. GOOGLE ! DO NOT DENY MY APPLICATION, or I'll be mad.

[@subbuktek]

the primary reason for traffic slowing down in highways is because of the delay caused by human reaction times. It takes a couple of seconds for you to percieve, comprehend and react when the car in front of you moves. Automated cars would eliminate this problem.

[@HemantGiri]

really cool but will it work in india and china where roads and traffic is worst

[@NickJones55]

Cool, but did you notice there's no other traffic on the road with him? I suspect they cleared the roads for this "test". I'll be more impressed when they do it on LA's highways at 5:00 PM.

[@tubs5690]

Not necessarily it would depend on the range of the sensors and the frequency of the readings. The reaction speed of the sensors would surpass that of humans. Again the range of the sensors would determine the safest speed the car could reach before becoming a hazard.

[@purplydreamz]

wow but how does the car avoid unforeseen circumstances? like a car that swerves into it from a neighboring lane.

[@m_f_luder]

I think that's why the narrator is describing things that most of us can see.

[@longpshorn]

Now, if the car paid for the food, that would be something. This is great stuff. I would love to own this car. Oh how much I could get done while my car drove for me. Great work google!

[@jonenat]

That's great, but what happens when the car gets short-circuited? (Perhaps by lightning?)

[@tarunghosh4]

This is wonderful technology. What is next?

[@joffa42]

Why is it not useable in citys ? It reacts much faster than humans to jay walking. And why is it not useable in states without much traffic ? Your comment makes little sense.

[@ajaykoemar3979]

Never. I will stop you!!!

[@brettgrimm719]

Google, I would like to say that you are helping the whole world with your technology. This is, well, impossible until now!

[@silentone15]

Is it unfair to other disabled as tourette, deaf, and etc?

[@luqthansa123]

Wow!! When is the next self-driving car coming out?? lol

[@tjwakaa]

I was wondering why the videos was so specific, then I read the description.

[@xiangyuli]

how did you watch this video?

[@UDimwit]

I am epileptic and I would love to see this on Australian roads, To be independent again and to be able to go anywhere i needed or wanted to.. even to be able to advertise and get sponsors for the car.. it would be amazing.. truly amazing to make Do you sell them? how much? what would it take for you to start bringing them out to Australia?

[@genovaz]

You mean they'll release an outdated version of google's car in white/light grey with no customization options and sell it at a 60% mark up while calling it cutting edge?

[@AcerbusGaming]

I wounder how much this will cost

[@Jagerbomber]

You know the main reason they're making this is to complete Street View without needing a human driver. :P

[@grande1899]

number zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero one

[@iKingRPG]

First like and reply

[@virgiliomorieri3344]

Mi interessa approfondire questo progetto per sviluppo con applicazioni utili

[@faiz434]

Wait, how do you see the commercial?

[@Strictlypointless]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@TheMoose2010]

they would probably make new laws requiring you to have both hands on the wheel anyway, so they can still make money if you buy one of these. When they start being sold, that is.

[@Chunkyq129]

So the car drives for you, yet It makes YOU roll the window down?

[@Mar10nii]

So if I ask the car to crash?

[@karl75m]

Its not an April Fools joke everyone. Google has invested millions of dollars into this and has been working on it for a few years now.

[@DannleChannel]

How is that unfeasible?

[@wramarante]

Show de bola. É bom ver a tecnologia sendo trabalhada em favor do bem da humanidade.

[@alfonsocuiti]

Can't wait to read the first news about self-crashed cars lol

[@Tuskengod]

How does a human avoid those circumstances? The car most likely does the same, but better. Your reaction time, if you're really fast, is around 100 milliseconds. This technology will almost certainly respond faster than that.

[@MrBawdry]

Have to say that kakky pants mean something entirely different over here in the UK, but he may well be wearing them after a ride in a self driving car!

[@LAVirgo67]

Two years ago I was up in Tahoe Lake, CA and I saw this car zooming about town. It did not have the identifying markings and we wondered what the driver was up to. Now I know. Very cool! This car would give so many people, not only the blind, amazing independence. Thank you, Google.

[@ObasiProductions]

The hope is that, with more and more self-driving cars, there would be less and less drunk drivers, meaning that the risk of injury continually decreases as these cars become more popular.

[@omdavbu]

That's why there's the extra voice descriptions in this video. It explains to the visually impaired what's going on in the video.

[@SeaWater4ever]

Just excellent ! It would be very great in sommes years ! :D

[@wizardfrag]

Is this audio described by Brent Spiner (Data from TNG)?

[@BBbloodbrotherCCCX]

Google. Please do some more of these stories. This is so cool. Amazing video.

[@AdrianU94]

What is the steering wheel good for ? :D

[@iKingRPG]

To take over if something happens

[@VleerLab]

oh, only in the end I realized that the narrator explained everything happening because the video is made for blind people too

[@petaujus3000]

in tens of thousands of kilometers, it crashed once: the engineer was driving it.

[@Muskar2]

If you mean speeding tickets, then yes - unless of course you go into manual mode and break the speed limit yourself.

[@Scabbalate]

I do not believe it will be allowed because the computer can not replace people.

[@TerrySimmonsMTL2267]

I'm thinking, if ALL cars drove themselves, we might have less accidents (maybe?). Not feasible but an interesting thought.

[@piecake9]

wait.... how does the car know where to go?

[@MsAussie83]

I think it might be GPS and artificial intelligence.

[@nukebomb24]

And that's different from them driving the car themselves..how?

[@BenTreynorSloss]

This would be a great car for teenagers; they could get around independently, but would be driven more safely than they would drive themselves.

[@deidralifestyle1463]

wow so amazing I am legally blind out of one eye and I'm 22 years old so just imagine me in this car it will be so awesome I wish I could afford something like this

[@iKingRPG]

It's the future you can buy a Tesla

[@Silverstorm0042]

Where are these available?

[@iKingRPG]

Tesla.com

[@kdbrent]

I can just imagine the faces the people are making as the blind man gets into the drivers seat.

[@raghavraj8927]

That is wonderful technology for future

[@patriciajones4758]

I am 71 years old and i need a car so bad,I have no way to get to my doctors ,or back and for the Hospitel’s This is a car that I would feal save in.I would love to try this,Patricia Jones Center St apt206 at Stmarys PA 15857. I pray I will her from you.Thank You, God Bliss

[@TheAnuchild]

WOw, that is incredible.

[@gony250]

It's very awesome but I am kind of worried about some complex situations -- a lot of cars, traffic congestion.

[@dulalipa]

In Future Technologies will allow us to get rid of traffic lights

[@matthewvealey8573]

Goeun L6ee

[@sibelgirgin6873]

bu arada bu nedenle yangın söndürme

[@matthaas3388]

.wow

[@ksaravanakumar]

It may not work in present day India road conditions.

[@Jagerbomber]

My bad. didn't mean to spam. How about not giving me an error when you successfully post eh youtube?