Google is behind a project, which has seen a fleet of adapted Toyota Prius models, being tested using driverless technology in California over recent months. The cars use a combination of cameras, radar sensors and laser range finders, to see and sense other road users, while navigation is aided by (of course) advance Google maps.

Results to date have been impressive, as the cars have covered 140,000 miles in testing, all accident free, apart from when one car was rear ended by a “human”  driver. Most of these miles have been without any driver intervention at all, although every car has had a driver behind the wheel and an engineer in the passenger seat in case of an emergency.

Google says the objective of the project is not to create totally driverless cars, but to offer the possibility of a “super cruise control” or system similar to an auto pilot, where a driver could break from driving to relax, talk on the phone, text or check his computer screen.

The developers say at the moment this is purely a research project and Google has no plans to bring such a system to the market. However, with such a major force involved in the technology do not be too surprised if the development pace in this sector suddenly picks up a gear.