根据今天发给大学员工的一封电子邮件，Uber正在亚利桑那大学建立一个新的自动驾驶汽车项目。新项目将集中于自动驾驶汽车技术，特别是开发完全自主汽车所涉及的地图和光学挑战。优步的一份官方声明证实了这一消息，称“我们将与该校镜头设计领域的一些世界顶尖专家合作，改进我们拍摄的图像，并利用这些图像构建地图和安全功能。”就在几个月前，优步匹兹堡中心（Uber's Pitt**urgh center）的一次大规模招聘活动刚刚开始，许多人抱怨说，他们从当地机器人实验室聘请了如此多的专家，以至于他们有效地取消了竞争项目。

根据亚利桑那州州长的一份声明，该合作关系将专注于地图绘制和安全所需的光学系统，并将导致一些优步的测试车辆在亚利桑那州永久居住。优步将向该校光学科学学院捐赠2.5万美元。更多细节仍在制定中，但双方的合作似乎旨在将图森定位为优步正在进行的自主汽车研究的新中心。

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发送给亚利桑那大学员工的完整电子邮件转载如下：

I am very pleased to announce that this morning, I had the honor of welcoming Governor Doug Ducey, Representative Martha McSally, and Brian McClendon, Vice President of Advanced Technologies for Uber Technologies Inc., to the UA main campus. We held a press conference to announce an exciting new partnership between Uber and the University of Arizona. Through the statement of intent that we signed today, Uber and the UA have agreed to work together on educational, workforce development, and research efforts in optics, engineering, and education for the benefit of both parties and for that of Southern Arizona. This partnership builds on the UA’s history of excellence in optical sciences and will fund important research here at the UA in the coming years. Details of the agreement are yet to be finalized but common areas of interest and expertise include mapping and autonomous or "self-driving" 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.

更新时间：美国东部时间8月25日晚上9:45：更新内容包括优步的官方声明。