Uber developing self driving bikes and scooters that automatically return to ...

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Uber is developing self driving electric bikes and scooters that can drive themselves back to their charging stations after use. 

The firm is already hiring engineers for the project, which is calls 'micromobility'. 

It is hoped that by returning to their stations themselves, Uber can avoid the problem of dumped scooters and bikes that have plagued current services.  

It announced the project at an Oakland event for teams racing self driving mini cars.

'Exciting announcement from @UberATG at today's @DIYRobocars event,' tweeted tech expert Chris Anderson.

'Micromobility' = autononomous scooters & bikes that can drive themselves to charging or better locations. Hiring now' 

Jump, Uber's On-demand electric bikes and scooter division, is based in New York. 

'I'm told that this team will actually live in Uber's @jump_rides group,' he added '@UberATG will continue to focus on self-driving cars.' 

Uber has remained tight-lipped on the project, but says it will bring 'sensing and robotics technologies' to shared bikes and scooters. 

 'The New Mobilities team at Uber is exploring ways to improve safety, rider experience, and operational efficiency of our shared electric scooters and bicycles through the application of sensing and robotics technologies,' Uber's ATG wrote in a Google Form seeking information from people interested in career opportunities, found by TechCrunch. 

Uber recently resumed self-driving car tests, nine months after one of its autonomous vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. 

The firm said it's resuming limited testing on public roads in Pittsburgh.   

The return of testing comes days after the state of Pennsylvania granted Uber permission to resume testing.

The relaunch is a significant reduction from Uber's previous self-driving operations.