Ford emboldens its robotic rides

An Argo AI modified Ford Motor Co. Fusion autonomous vehicle is seen driving along a street near the company's headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. The investment in Argo AI, a self-driving startup, is Ford's way of trying to catch up to Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo and General Motors Co. in the driverless derby. Ford took a majority stake in Argo last year and expects to deploy autonomous vehicles running its system in a money-making business by 2021. Photographer: Justin Merriman/Bloomberg

The self-driving Ford Fusion, with a white crown of cameras, radars and lasers sensing its surroundings, was coursing through the congested streets of Miami when a bicyclist cut across its path. 

The robot didn’t even tap the brakes. It cruised along at 25 miles an hour, knowing that the bike was far enough away and moving fast enough across three lanes of traffic that there was no risk of collision.