Google has proudly unveiled its first working prototype for the tech giant's self-driving car.
Calling it "the best holiday gift we could've imagined," Google said in a Plus post that the round, toy-like car is "a fully functional vehicle--our first complete prototype for fully autonomous driving."
Aesthetically speaking, this iteration of Google's already famous self-driving vehicle doesn't look that different from the initial prototype announced in May.
Can you spot the tweaks?
As noted by TechCrunch, the car still looks like a model that would be popular among the anthropomorphic characters in Richard Scarry's Busytown. But the new prototype features a few changes that include headlights; reflector dots on the front grille; and sleeker hardware on top of the car.
The futuristic nub on the roof of the new version that holds a camera and radar was much bulkier in the vehicle's earlier prototype.
Google will continue testing the vehicle, which holds all of the various self-driving systems that the company has been developing, such as steering, braking and auto-pilot driving.
"We're going to be spending the holidays zipping around our test track, and we hope to see you on the streets of northern California in the New Year," Google said in a statement. "Our safety drivers will continue to oversee the vehicle for a while longer, using temporary manual controls as needed while we continue to test and learn."
While the new prototype is a milestone on the self-driving car's way to the public, don't get too excited yet. Google's autonomous vehicle is still a ways from the market since it can't yet navigate heavy rain, snow or roads that haven't been previously mapped out in great detail.
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