My first Conclusion:
Well it is an altruistic project, something you might expect Google to undertake with a "self driving cars"
potential to save lives in road traffic accident situations. Then there's the benefit in that Google might gain in being able to collect useful data about peoples movements which is obviously a Google goal. But I can't help feeling there's something wrong with this view of the project.
Too Many Hurdles
The project doesn't appear to have potential, the long term vision you would expect from Google. Consider also the hurdles to overcome, there will be considerable battles with the legality of having a machine driving itself in a public place; imagine the consequences of an accident, imagine the lawyers getting involved!
(There's a whole blog to be had discussing the legal aspect)
Then I found myself in the Google+ community "Open Source Robotics" where a member has recently released all of the files necessary for someone with a 3D Printer (me) to be able to 3D print a robot for their own experimental use and development. Aside from my interest in 3D printing this project does not really grab my attention. Robotics has a lot of problems to overcome, robots are still little better than the BigTrak Tank, the legendary toy from the 80's
on which you press buttons on saying move forward 4 move left 2 move backwards 1. Then it hit me, the problem with robots, that's the same problem that Google are solving with the Google car! Robots need to be autonomous. Robots need to be able to navigate around your home, around the factory with self reliance, in other words you need to be able to say to your robot go to the kitchen and get me a pint of milk.
This is an incredibly difficult thing to do with a robot. You would need a robot as big as a car to carry all of the expensive hi tech equipment required..... Google are not developing a self driving car, Google are developing the hardware and software to create an autonomous system.
Create an Autonomous System
What is the potential for an autonomous system? Well the obvious one is the self driving car, I do feel there are going to be some legal challenges which I am sure will be overcome because the legality will be reversed. (There's a whole blog to be had discussing the legal aspect)
Autonomous Robots
As I have hinted upon the application to the domestic and industrial robot, particularly in the domestic environment this will require some advancement in miniaturization (Reduce from Car platform to Robot Platform) which as we are all well aware of are on the way. Further miniaturization will enable the technology to enter into the drone arena making drones autonomous and opening up exploration opportunities, mapping, inspection of structures, crop management, policing security, military uses.
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Autonomous Drones, Subs,...
I can envisage the drone like technology moving into underwater autonomous vehicles which then open up access to vast mineral and biological resources, not to mention the possibility of historical discoveries. At some stage depending on the economics of weight/mass and miniaturization of the components this technology will make its way into space, again there is a vast potential for exploration, finding mineral resources and possibly other discoveries.
Disruptive Technology?
Self driving cars lead to self driving lorries and self driving trains.
Gatwick Airport's £45m shuttle link opens in Sussex (Driver-less Shuttle Service)
Think London underground and what effect autonomous driving will have on the unions! This is just at its simplest level I cannot begin to imagine what will happen when we have autonomous robots
in a human format with near human or better than human skills.
Opportunities...
Trains and motorways made possible the idea of the commuter belt,
imagine what will happen when you can get in your car and sleep or work your way to work? What will that do to the typical commuter towns? Where will new towns spring up? What opportunities are there to anticipate and purchase cheap properties now with a view to investing in the future.
Google are Creating an Autonomous System
Google are not developing a self driving car they are developing an autonomous system. The difference in perception of what they are doing is relatively small as you could consider "autonomous" and "self driving" are one in the same but the difference in how Google envisage the fruition of this project is vast and will dictate the scale of resources they are prepared to make available to the project.
The Google Car is Just the 1st Step
Developing this autonomous system within the ample structure of a car gives them a large platform to which they can easily add technology and devices for testing and designing ready for when this technology benefits from the miniaturization which will eventually come.
