Google's self-driving cars headed to city streets

Google officials said this week its self-driving cars can now maneuver through city streets, the next phase of its “moonshot” research initiative.

Already, the roughly 24 sensor-loaded Lexus RX450h vehicles have logged 700,000 autonomous driving miles, mostly on California and Nevada highways. Launched in 2009, Google said it has caused no accidents so far when its vehicles are in self-driving mode.

Google upgraded the vehicles’ software by adding more types of objects, such as pedestrians and cyclists, that the cars can understand and respond to. The sensors on the vehicles can now “read” street signs when they appear suddenly, such as when a crossing guard raises a STOP sign, Google said.

Read more and watch a video at Wall Street Journal.