Michigan Says Get Out Of The California Bubble And Come Here For Real Road Testing Of Self Driving Cars

Michigan and California, vying for control of our driverless future, are each proposing crumbling World War II military sites as ideal locations to test robot cars. Michigan’s secret weapon? Better potholes.

The Great Lakes state plans to make a test track out of a 330-acre industrial ghost town near Ypsilanti, where Rosie the Riveter built B-24 bombers during World War II. Backers contend that tough winters make the Willow Run factory site a better proxy for the imperfect world of driving than California’s decommissioned Navy base in Concord.

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Sciros - 2/23/2016 10:53:13 AM

+3 Boost

Nice, it's true Michigan roads are abysmal so I guess may as well try to make the most of it. But if you want driverless cars to really tackle "hard mode," how about getting from point A to point B in Boston (even Google is hopeless navigating all those winding roads and goofy intersections half the time) or just go balls-out and try Naples Italy.

Agent009 - 2/23/2016 3:31:36 PM

+2 Boost

Once a Google car hits the crappy roads of Michigan and is sidelined after ripping off a wheel in a Detroit pothole the truth will be clear.

The technology is really getting good but STILL needs a driver.

Sciros - 2/23/2016 5:34:17 PM

+2 Boost

Isn't the truth really that Michigan should repair its crumbling infrastructure (really a federal level problem but hey the F-35 isn't going to fund itself... or will it)?

The problem is shit roads. Frankly, if the go-to solution is "driver swerving around potholes" then I think we should re-evaluate whether we're still a first-world country.

TheSteve - 2/23/2016 11:32:57 AM

0 Boost

Michigan has had a hard time attracting ANY business, so this attempt is not unique.

HenryN - 2/23/2016 12:36:44 PM

+2 Boost

How about NYC with their "no-yield" mentality ? Autonomous cars would have big problem with this style of driving.

jeffgall - 2/23/2016 8:20:24 PM

0 Boost

I do wonder how driverless cars approach snow conditions. Or even a bad rain storm.