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Uber Partners with University of Arizona for Optics and Mapping Tech

Uber Partners with University of Arizona for Optics and Mapping Tech

Self-driving cars are being tested right now and Uber is partnering with the College of Optical Science of the University of Arizona for research and development of optics and mapping technology. Uber is eager to explore the economic possibility presented by the inclusion of self-driving cars into its fleet.

The partnership was announced by the office of Governor Doug Ducey on Tuesday. The test vehicles to be used for the research are Ford Fusion cars. These cars, which have been equipped with autonomous driving and mapping technology, will be tested at the Tucson campus of the university.

Self-driving technology

Previously, Uber said that the cars to be used as test vehicles for mapping were not self-driving cars, however, when the partnership was announced, it was revealed that the Arizona governor also signed an executive order for the state to allow the operation and testing of self-driving cars. Therefore it had been concluded that Uber would soon be testing technology for autonomous driving. Uber also has almost the same kind of collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), although what they are doing is just R & D for vehicle safety and mapping as well as self-driving technology. The one with the University of Arizona is about optics, to design the lens that will improve the safety and mapping features of the cars.

Expertise in optics

The University of Arizona is one of the world’s largest institutions for optics education. The university also has several industrial partners as well as companies involved in aerospace and defense.

People are now wondering if Uber will also be doing some poaching of talents at University of Arizona like it did with Carnegie Mellon University. It was revealed that the partnership between Uber and CMU started in February this year, and by June, Uber was able to woo about 40 scientists and researchers from CMU to transfer to Uber.

Development of cutting-edge technology

This latest collaboration Uber had entered into signifies that the company is actively pursuing the development of cutting-edge technology that includes self-driving cars. The company wants to develop its own mapping technology so it can stop relying on other suppliers. It is also boosting its own group of researchers and announced last June that about 100 employees from Microsoft will be joining Uber.

Included in the partnership package with the University of Arizona is a donation of $25,000 to the College of Optical Sciences of the university.

Copyright: akulamatiau / 123RF Stock Photo

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