Think of some recent tech trends and you might name self-driving cars, 3D printing and artificial intelligence. All three have now been combined in an electric vehicle.
Olli is a 12-seater self-driving minibus that’s partially operated by IBM Watson, the artificial intelligence system that famously beat two Jeopardy! champions and has since been used for projects including medical diagnosis.
The good news for those terrified by the idea of machines learning so much they go rogue, the customized Watson tech isn’t taking care of the driving. Instead it’s taking care of some of the tasks that human drivers and guides would normally do such as engaging in spoken conversations with passengers about the journey, any route decisions, and local landmarks.
To add to the modern gadgetry, the shell of Olli is 3D-printed from partly-recyclable materials. It’s an offshoot of a project to do the same for cars aimed at human drivers. The idea is partly to allow complete customization of the exterior appearance of the car. However, it also makes it possible to include built-in crumple zones for safety. The printing process is also said to be less wasteful as there aren’t any offcuts.
Though Olli is partly a demonstration of technological possibilities, the maker Local Motors believe there’s an immediate market for it as a shuttle vehicle in large facilities.
Picture Credit: Marvel Studios Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, the famous duo behind Deadpool and…
Hold onto your litter boxes, geeks! A new Exploding Kittens series will soon drop on…
For today’s edition of “Deal of the Day,” here are some of the best deals…
Sure, I can't wait to watch what's next for Masters of the Universe, but in…
