The tech giant has recently announced that Google self-driving cars will now be tested in Phoenix, Arizona. The area was selected due to its distinctive desert conditions, extreme temperatures and unique topology. The Phoenix area environment will better help researchers analyze the cars’ abilities to maneuver through the extreme temperatures, dusty air, golf cart crossings, time-based speed limits and severe weather.
Phoenix, AZ is the fourth city to allow Google to test their self-driving prototypes. The company has already been testing these visionary vehicles in Mountain View, California; Austin, Texas and Kirkland, Washington.
The autonomous testing fleet consists of modified Lexus RX450h SUVs. The company has 23 of Google self-driving cars on public streets of the four cities, 4 of these are already in Austin. In addition to test the self-driving capabilities of these cars, Google will also use them to collect data on traffic signals, digitally map lanes and curb heights etc.
The company also plans to introduce two-seater prototypes, the likes of which are already self-driving in Mountain View.