Post date: May 09, 2012 2:9:26 PM
(GOOGLE) - The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles approved Monday (May 7) Google's license application to test autonomous vehicles on Nevada public roads. It is the first license issued in the United States under new laws and regulations that put Nevada at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development.
Google's self-driving car has been approved for a license plate in Nevada to test the vehicle on public roads.
After drive testing demonstrations along freeways, state highways and neighborhoods both in Carson City and the busy Las Vegas Strip, the license plate application was approved and is now creating the state's first autonomous testing business license and license plates for the international company. The license plates displayed on the test vehicle will have a red background and feature an infinity symbol on the left side.
Google was the first company to file an application with the department to test their autonomous system. Other auto manufacturers have indicated their desire to test and develop autonomous technology in Nevada in the future.
Google's self-driving cars use a laser radar on the roof of the vehicle to detect obstacles, pedestrians and other cars. With the help of GPS and a bit of artificial intelligence, the car can drive itself with very little or no intervention from the human sitting inside.