Google's robo-car takes blind man to Taco Bell

Google's robo-car takes blind man to Taco Bell

In another milestone in the development of self-driving cars, Google's robotic Toyota Prius has chauffeured a blind man to a Taco Bell and the dry cleaners, the tech company says.

"Where this would change my life is to give me the independence and the flexibility to go to the places I both want to go and need to go when I need to do those things," Steve Mahan says in a three-minute vi deo posted Tuesday to YouTube and Google+, the Los Angeles Times reports. (Here's the non-narrated version of the video.)

"Look, Ma, no hands. No hands, no feet," says Mahan, who is CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center in San Jose. He jokes, "This is some of the best driving I've ever done."

Mahan, who says he has lost 95 of his vision and is "well-past legally blind," was accompanied by Google "passengers" on "a carefully programmed route," around Morgan Hill, Calif., south of San Jose, according to the credits.

At the end, Google identifies Hahan as "Self-Driving Car User 0000000001."

Here's what the big G says in the video captio n:

We announced our self-driving car project in 2010 to make driving safer, more enjoyable, and more efficient. Having safely completed over 200,000 miles of computer-led driving, we wanted to share one of our favorite moments. Here's Steve, who joined us for a special drive on a carefully programmed route to experience being behind the wheel in a whole new way. We organized this test as a technical experiment, but we think it's also a promising look at what autonomous technology may one day deliver if rigorous technology and safety standards can be met.

Germany's Continental Automotive Group, with U.S. headquarters near Detroit, has been testing a self-driving car that in the next few weeks is expected to hit the 10,000-mile mark.

STORY: Self-driving cars get closer every day, but won't hit you

When it reaches 10,000 test miles -- 90 of them without touching the steering wheel or pedals -- Continental's automated, modified VW Passat would qualify for the road in Nevada, which last month became the first state to issue rule for driverless vehicles.

BLOG: Nevada issues rules for driverless cars