Google’s self-driving car, up close and personal

One
of Google’s self-driving vehicles sits outside the Computer History
Museum in Mountain View, Calif. Tuesday. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

While plenty has been written about the Google self-driving car, we haven’t seen a lot of good photos of it.

The recent run of press on the car overwhelmingly leaned on the same bland image
of the Lexus shot from behind at an intersection. Sometimes images of
the car bubble up on social media, but nothing is crisp and detailed.

Even Google image results lead to mostly pictures of Prii from the project’s early years. (Most notable, this classic shot
of Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin leaning out of a
Prius, as chairman Eric Schmidt looks on, holding his arms in a less
silly fashion.)

But the recent drought is over! Tuesday photographers got a good look
at the car. Enjoy a close glimpse at the sensors and cameras that help
it navigate roadways.

This laser radar system — which reportedly costs $70,000 — spins atop Google’s self-driving vehicle. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

This sensor is mounted on the front grill. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

There’s a camera inside the windshield that reads traffic lights and street signs. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

Much
of this SUV — part of Google’s fleet of about two dozen self-driving
cars — looks no different than a typical Lexus RX450h. (Stephen
Lam/Reuters)