Uber is refuting claims that its expansion into self-driving cars hinges on trade secrets stolen from a Google spinoff, arguing that its ride-hailing service has been working on potentially superior technology. The case's outcome could alter the race to build self-driving cars that may transform transportation, reduce traffic deaths and launch a huge new industry. "And no wonder - Uber's LiDAR was developed by a different team, using a different beam pattern, and leveraging different know-how." Before Levandowski defected from Google early last year start Otto, Waymo alleges he downloaded more than 14,000 documents containing trade secrets that is now helping Uber. After buying Otto, Uber put Levandowski in charge of Uber's self-driving project, a job that has been imperilled by this lawsuit.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 07, 2017 23:15 UTC