Uber launches groundbreaking driverless car service

Uber's Volvo XC90 self driving car is shown during a demonstration of self-driving automotive technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. September 13, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk

PITTSBURGH: Uber launched a groundbreaking driverless car service Sept 14, jumping ahead of Detroit auto giants and Silicon Valley rivals with technology that could revolutionise transportation.  

In an ambitious experiment, a fleet of cars laden with lasers, cameras and other sensors – but with no one’s hands on the wheel – were to be deployed by the web-based ride service on the challenging roads of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, steering themselves to pick up regular Uber passengers who are used to being fetched by cars driven by humans.