According to the company's press release, the hybrid Ford Fusion will be collecting mapping data as well as testing its self-driving capabilities with a trained driver will be in the driver's seat monitoring operations, when the car is in a self-driving mode.
The Uber ATC car is outfitted with various sensors including radars, laser scanners, and high resolution cameras to map details of the surroundings. At the moment, the company's primary goal is to get the technology right and ensure it's safe for pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers on the road.
Uber believes that self-driving cars have the potential to save millions of lives and improve quality of life for people around the world by making sure there is less congestion, more affordable and accessible transportation.
"From the first steel mills to the laboratories at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh has a long history of innovation. Now we're taking another step forward, this time as home to Uber's Advanced Technologies Center, where some of the world's leading innovators are helping to shape the future of transportation. We're excited that Uber has chosen the Steel City as they explore new technologies that can improve people's lives — through increased road safety, less congestion, and more efficient and smarter cities," stated William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh.