As it continues its efforts towards world domination, Uber, the popular tech-based car-ride service, is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) on the Uber Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh.
“The center will focus on the development of key long-term technologies that advance Uber’s mission of bringing safe, reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere,” the partners said in making the announcement.
The partnership will provide a forum for Uber technology leaders to work closely with CMU faculty, staff and students — both on campus and at the National Robotics Engineering Center — to do research and development, primarily in the areas of mapping, vehicle safety and autonomy technology.
Uber apps connect drivers to riders who can summon and pay for rides via their mobile phones. Founded in 2009, Uber now operates in more than 200 cities in 54 countries worldwide.
“Uber is a rapidly growing company known for its innovative technology that is radically improving access to transportation for millions of global citizens,” says Andrew Moore, dean of CMU’s School of Computer Science. “CMU is renowned for innovations that transform lives. We look forward to partnering with Uber as they build out the Advanced Technologies Center and to working together on real-world applications, which offer very interesting new challenges at the intersections of technology, mobility and human interactions.”
The agreement also includes funding from Uber for faculty chairs and graduate fellowships.
“We are excited to join the community of Pittsburgh and partner with the experts at CMU, whose breadth and depth of technical expertise, particularly in robotics, are unmatched,” says Jeff Holden, Uber’s chief product officer. “As a global leader in urban transportation, we have the unique opportunity to invest in leading edge technologies to enable the safe and efficient movement of people and things at giant scale. This collaboration and the creation of the Uber Advanced Technologies Center represent an important investment in building for the long term of Uber.”
Source: Uber and Carnegie Mellon University
Writer: Elise Vider
