The future is being crafted, right here in Morton.
“I have a 5 year old son and I think by the time he is 16 he will have the option to drive or not drive, so I think this is how fast this is coming along” said Bobby Hambrick, founder and CEO of AutonomouStuff.
A company that seems like something out of a sci-fi movie, AutonomouStuff equips cars with the technology to drive themselves.
“What we do is help jump start them faster towards autonomous driving, whatever that means. We provide product services, engineering services, software engineering and even build the entire test vehicle for them” said Hambrick.
Using GPS technology and a pre-determined route, the cars in their warehouse actually drive themselves, with a safety driver in the seat.
“Our customers range widely from 2 guys in a garage in Silicon Valley that are start-ups, to the world’s largest companies.”
Hambrick said it’ll be years before you or I could buy a self-driving car, but when that time comes the ride you request, might be missing a driver.
“You can think of the way Uber and Lyft now are doing car sharing services, it’s gonna be like that but it’s gonna be automatic” said Hambrick.
But that’s just one part of the new transportation machine, the tech could reduce traffic related accidents and fatalities.
“The car does a better job at, at perceiving the environment than any human could, the car doesn’t sleep, the car doesn’t get tired, the car isn’t distracted picking their kids up from soccer practice or you know calling the school or the doctor ot the latest drama happening in your life.”
Still feeling weird about the idea of a self-driving car? Don’t worry, you can sit in the drivers seat and take control of the vehicle at any time.
“I think that a lot of people in general are scared of technology at first, but it’s human nature to adopt something that, that creates a convenience in your life” said Hambrick.
A convenience crafted in a warehouse in Central Illinois-shipped around the world. The future of driving is here to pick you up.
