Uber just took a big step to making its driverless cars a reality

Uber

Uber is getting serious about its driverless car development.

The company announced Thursday that it's developing its own digital maps to improve its driverless technology.

The news comes a few months after Uber unveiled its driverless car for the first time.

Uber's mapping efforts are being led by Brian McClendon, Uber's vice president of advanced technologies who helped lead Google's mapping division from 2004 until 2015.

Uber's mapping cars have been driving around the US since last year, but this summer they'll begin mapping routes in Mexico.

As The Atlantic notes, the Uber interface is built on Google Maps API. Uber drivers outside of China also have the option to jump out of the Uber app to navigate using Google maps instead (in China, drivers use Baidu).

But as Uber notes in its announcement, third-party maps serve as a good starting point, but more information is needed. For example, Uber doesn't need information related to ocean topography from Google's maps to develop its driverless cars, but it does need more data on traffic patterns and pick-up locations.

"Moreover, we need to be able to provide a seamless experience in parts of the world where there aren’t detailed maps — or street signs," Uber wrote in the announcement.

Uber did not immediately respond to Tech Insider's request for comment.

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