Congressman wants investment in driverless vehicle’s future

MORGANTOWN, W.Va — West Virginia officials hope to bring new technology to the farmland.

That was the goal set during the America First: Self-Self Driving Car Technology Forum Wednesday in Morgantown.

Officials from West Virginia University, Uber, and Congressman David McKinley (R-WV1) took part in the forum. McKinley believes that West Virginia could benefit from exploring the new technology.

“I think the impact it’s going to have in rural America — it’s one thing to have it in Downtown Pittsburgh and San Francisco,” McKinley said. “But how can this concept work in rural America?”

Representatives from Uber explained the development of their self driving technology. Riders enter their destination into a computer system, which then used infrared radar to safely take the driver to their destination.

While the technology is not expected to be seen in West Virginia neighborhoods anytime soon, McKinley feels that even members of Congress should pay attention it.

“It could be 30 years,” he said. “But let’s make sure that, as we develop it, I think it’s incumbent upon us in Congress to make sure that the process is safe and we’re not cutting corners.”

Some larger cities have already started to see some self-driving vehicles pop up, including Pittsburgh. West Virginia’s neighbor to the north has a few Uber-designed cars on the streets after two years of performance trials. McKinley believes that there’s a future for West Virginia in exploring the technology especially with WVU’s history of involvement.

“West Virginia University has been incredibly participative in federal research, so let’s do more of it,” he said.

WVU has been working on self-driving technology since early 2017. Though there are still, admittedly, some kinks in the system, McKinley feels progress has been made,

“Let’s give us an opportunity to participate in this, spend some money here in research, and be a part of it,” he said.

Nearly 300 people gathered for the Forum Wednesday.





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