According to public records, Uber Technologies, the ride-sharing company, is scheduled to have Tenant Improvements completed soon for opening. In partnership with The University of Arizona, the company is researching new mapping and transportation innovations — including driverless cars and is scheduled to open its 40,000-square-feet facility in the UA Tech Center.
The space is to become home to Uber’s mapping test vehicles. As part of the partnership – which focuses on research and development in the optics space for mapping and safety, Uber will donate $25,000 of its vast $7 billion warchest to the university's College of Optical Sciences for scholarships to help the next generation of scientists, engineers and researchers continue to explore and develop new, innovative technology.
Uber will also partner with the UA on student engagement and a scholarship program in the College of Optical Sciences that will support our efforts in the 100% Engagement initiative as well as those in expanding accessibility to affordable higher education. This is a very exciting new partnership, and I am so very glad that the UA’s global research leadership and commitment to innovation allows us to join in a collaborative effort that will have great benefit for this state. One of the exciting facets of public-private partnerships such as this one with Uber is to see University research engaged at the forefront of commercial and technological innovation. I am impressed with Uber’s vision and commitment to support discovery that will drive Arizona’s innovation and knowledge economy. I am grateful for Governor Ducey's support for this partnership and for his leadership in helping to facilitate it. I look forward to the great things the partnership will do for our state and its people.
While driverless vehicles are not yet legal on public roads in Arizona and most states, Uber engineers will ply the local roadways, testing new technologies that will eventually enable driver-free vehicles.
Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, has pointed out the benefits of self-driving cars in the past, highlighting that creating a fleet of driverless vehicles removes most of the cost of the service — which could eventually remove the need for car ownership completely.
Some of that work is already going on in Pittsburgh, where Uber opened an advanced-technologies center at Carnegie Mellon University in February 2015, as it kicked off its driverless-car project.
“This is an exciting new partnership, and I am glad that the UA's global research leadership allows us to join in a collaborative effort that will have great benefit for this state,” said University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart. “Ranked as top-20 public research university by the National Science Foundation, the UA’s role in Arizona’s innovation and knowledge economy is absolutely vital. Our achievements in advanced optics and imaging technologies will help Uber on the ground in Arizona. I’m impressed with Uber’s vision and commitment to this partnership, and grateful for Governor Ducey’s support and leadership in helping to facilitate it.