Mouser Electronics Inc. along with Local Motors and engineer Grant Imahara debuted a video this week showing the test build of a vehicle cockpit for a 3D-printed autonomous vehicle equipped with a camera-mounted drone.
The creation is part of the Essence of Autonomy challenge, which encouraged engineers to come up with the next generation of autonomous vehicle technology.
The design features a drone mounted on the rear of the vehicle that, when launched, provides the driver with a birds-eye view of the surroundings when the car is in self-driving mode. The driver can watch a viewing screen, which gives a 360-degree perspective of the surroundings.
“At Mouser, we aim to help engineers maximize technology to create the next level of human and tech interaction,” said Glenn Smith, Mouser’s chief executive officer. “The Empowering Innovation Together program is the embodiment of that missions, and this series with Local Motors is at the forefront of that interaction.”
Mouser is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. It produces semiconductors and distributes electronic components.
