Group launched to help Nevada thrive in development of autonomous cars

Group launched to help Nevada thrive in development of autonomous cars

Gov. Brian Sandoval takes a spin in a driverless car Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Carson City. Sandoval described the experience as “amazing”; he took the test run with a Google engineer and DMV Director Bruce Breslow. They started their trip at the DMV offices in Carson City and went north to Washoe Valley, where they turned around. An economic development organization Tuesday approved the formation of the Center for Advanced Mobility, part of a state initiative to place Nevada on the cutting edge of automobile technology at a time when the industry is quickly pushing to develop autonomous vehicles. The center will fall under the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems, a nonprofit group that currently coordinates with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to oversee the state’s designation as a federal drone test site and help develop the state’s unmanned aerial industry. Initial funding for the project will come from GOED. According to a draft budget approved at the Institute for Autonomous Systems’ board meeting Tuesday, the center is expected to spend $102,800 from March to June, the end of the state’s fiscal year. Over time, officials expect a portion of revenue to come from federal grants. Last […]