Uber expands self-driving car research

Uber is collaborating with The University of Arizona (UA) on research into self-driving cars, adding to the company’s efforts in an area that has also attracted investment from Google.

The company will work with the university to research ways to improve the imaging technology that autonomous cars use to navigate the world.

{mosads}”We’ll work with some of the world’s leading experts in lens design at the University to improve the imagery we capture and use to build out mapping and safety features,” an Uber staffer wrote in a blog post. The Arizona governor’s office said that as “part of the partnership … the university will become home to Uber’s state-of-the-art mapping test vehicles.”

The company has also made a $25,000 donation to the College of Optical Sciences, which will house the research.

The collaboration is Uber’s second with a university for research related to self-driving cars. In February, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh announced its partnership with the company “to do research and development, primarily in the areas of mapping and vehicle safety and autonomy technology.” As part of the partnership, Uber funded endowed chairs and fellowships for graduate students.

Uber has also reportedly hired approximately 50 engineers from a CMU robotics lab for its own research.

The state’s governor, Republican Doug Ducey, praised the company’s partnership with the UA. The governor also signed an executive order aimed at supporting the development of autonomous cars in the state.

“This is a great day for Uber, for the UA and for the future of innovation in Arizona,” Ducey said in a statement. “Our administration has been keenly focused on helping 21st-century companies like Uber grow their footprint and succeed in our state, and today’s announcement is the latest signal that it’s working.”

Alphabet, the company that owns Google, is developing its own autonomous vehicle technology. It has also sought the blessing of local officials as it has expanded testing for the cars beyond Mountain View, Calif., where it is headquartered, to Austin, Texas.