Data collection beginning in D.C.
By: Danielle Burr, Head of Uber Federal Affairs
We’re on a mission to deliver safe and reliable self-driving technology to Uber users around the world and create positive impact through self-driving cars that drive more than themselves. Uber Advanced Technologies Group has already started this journey in Dallas, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto. Today, we’re adding another city to that list 一 our nation’s capital.
Uber first launched in Washington, D.C. in late 2011, the sixth city launched globally. Since then, we’ve been proud partners in our nation’s capital, expanding into new modes like shared POOL rides, wheelchair accessible options, JUMP e-bikes and dockless scooters, and linking Uber users with public transit to help them access the transportation modes that best fit their needs.
Starting on January 24, we will begin exploring a new mode of transportation in Washington, D.C. when we bring our self-driving cars to District roads for data collection. Importantly, these cars will be in manual driving mode 一 meaning a Mission Specialist (a specially trained vehicle operator) will maintain control of the vehicle at all times.
We are using a phased approach to develop and deploy our self-driving vehicles, taking the necessary steps to operate safely in every city. Manual data collection is the first step in our development process and part of how we are validating our self-driving expansion approach. This manual data collection allows us to:
- Develop high-definition maps, the foundational information layer for our self-driving system.
- Capture scenarios that might be different from city to city to simulate and incorporate into on-track testing.
- Further refine our expansion methodology, which involves identifying key characteristics within an operational domain in a new city, and then running that data through our autonomy system in simulation and on our test track to verify that our self-driving system performs as intended before it drives on the road.
Our hope is that this first round of manually driven data collection will lay the foundation for testing our vehicles in self-driving mode in Washington, DC. While we are excited about the possibilities, we remain committed to ensuring that every mile we drive on public roads contributes safe and meaningful learnings to inform our development work.
When we think about safety, it goes beyond solely passengers. We care about keeping everyone on the road safe — whether you’re in one of our self-driving cars or crossing the street in front of one. That’s why we believe in working closely with local stakeholders and city officials and engaging with the Washington, D.C. community every step of the way.
Offering Uber riders a choice in how they get around their city is a powerful thing. That’s why at Uber we’re proud to help bring people closer to the things they need. We believe self-driving technology can play an important role in expanding transportation access, and we’re committed to developing this technology with safety at its core. To learn more about our testing process, check out https://www.uber.com/atg/cities/.
Washington, D.C. we’ll see you soon!