Uber’s chief technology officer Praveen Neppalli Naga announced on Thursday that the company will expand its AV Labs program to turn its global fleet of drivers into a mobile sensor network for autonomous vehicle developers.
Speaking at TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event in San Francisco, Naga described the initiative as a direct evolution of the AV Labs program the company introduced in late January. The goal is to collect real-time road data through existing driver smartphones and vehicle sensors, creating a crowdsourced grid that self-driving companies can use for mapping and testing.
The program will rely on drivers who already use the Uber app to gather anonymized data such as road conditions, traffic patterns, and GPS coordinates. Naga emphasized that participation will be optional and drivers will receive additional compensation for contributing sensor data.
Uber has not yet disclosed how many drivers have signed up for the expanded program or when it will launch globally. The company plans to work with third-party developers and automakers to integrate the data into their autonomous systems.
The move comes as Uber seeks new revenue streams beyond ride-hailing, following years of financial losses and shifting priorities under new leadership.
Source: techcrunch.com