Just press 'Go': Here's what Waymo wants to replace your car's steering wheel with (GOOGL, GOOG)

pulse

August 16, 2017 8:24 PM

Google spin-off Waymo just got a patent for a car console for a self-driving vehicle that includes prominent "Stop" and "Go" buttons.

Getting your self-driving car to take you somewhere might be as simple as pressing "Go."

That's apparently Waymo's vision, at least. The autonomous vehicle company, which is a sister company to Google and is owned by Alphabet, was granted a design patent on Tuesday for a center console for a self-driving car. In the design drawings submitted for the patent, the console features a prominent "Go" button on top that would presumably set the car off on its way.

Should riders get nervous or uncomfortable, they could press another button that promises to "Stop Now."

It was unclear from the patent document exactly how riders would tell the car where they were heading when they pressed the Go button or how quickly the car would stop if they pressed the "Stop Now" one.

Waymo has been one of the pioneering companies in self-driving cars. The company's autonomous vehicles have driven millions of miles in self-driving mode.

Other than the Stop Now and Go buttons, Waymo's patented console looks a lot like ones you might see in cars today. It includes buttons for locking doors, raising and lowering windows and turning on seat heaters.

pulse