Uber is mapping Australia: Better ETAs and Accurate pickups

Look out Gold Coast, the Meter Maids are about to get captured by all new camera technology and it’s not creepy tourists with their smartphones, it’s Uber and their mapping cameras atop Uber drivers cars.

In an effort to get the most accurate maps possible, Uber is putting camera technology on top of a select number of cars on the Gold Coast to improve their overall map data for better user experiences.

Uber say “Accurate maps are at the core of our mission: to provide reliable transport to everyone, everywhere”, and the use of maps and GPS are critical to getting you the closest driver and getting you to your destination as quickly as possible.

The announcement was made on a blog post by Uber’s head of Mapping Manik Gupta.  Gupta was previously head of Google Maps so he knows his stuff when it comes to getting from A to B and the data required to make that happen.

This mapping effort by Uber will certainly add to the product experience, but will also allow Uber to be less reliant on Google Maps and in a small way prepare itself for the introduction of self-driving cars – those things, more than any other Uber driver, need maps, and bloody good ones.

Don’t worry, when a mapping car picks you up, no imagery is retained around your pickup or drop-off locations, and the mapping imagery will never be made public.

 

Recent Posts

  • Tech

NBN gets set for the final roll out of Fibre upgrades to another 600,000 homes

The NBN is getting ready to lock in the final stage of the Fibre to…

4 hours ago
  • Motoring

The stunning new BMW iX3 is a vision for the future realised as Neue Klasse comes to market

BMW has revealed the first new model to be designed and engineered under their 2025…

7 hours ago
  • Tech

Best in Smart Home – The SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell with AI wins at the IFA Innovation Awards

The SwannBuddy4K Video Doorbell with SwannShield™AI Voice Assistant has been given an Honouree accolade for…

14 hours ago
  • Tech

360 degree security camera coverage and smart AI capabilities come to Reolink security lineup at IFA 2025

Reolink is a bit of an upstart when it comes to home security but having…

17 hours ago
  • Lifestyle

LG unveil its AI plans for your home appliances at IFA 2025

LG has announced its vision for AI-powered living at IFA 2025 under the moniker “LG…

23 hours ago
  • Tech

NBA 2K26 review: a hugely popular game just got even better

To say that NBA 2K is an institution is an understatement of significant proportions.  Even…

1 day ago