Robotaxis from Waymo in real traffic
Is this the milestone for autonomous driving?
Waymo, a leading company in the field of autonomous driving, has made significant progress. The company has begun testing fully autonomous passenger vehicles without a human driver on motorways in Phoenix.
This expansion on trunk roads marks an important milestone, as motorways pose a particular challenge due to the higher speeds and more complex traffic situations.
How will the gradual introduction of robotaxis be implemented?
Waymo is taking a cautious approach to the introduction of autonomous driving on motorways:
- Initially, only Waymo employees will be allowed as passengers
- Employees provide feedback on the service and driving experience
- Only after this test phase will Waymo One passengers be invited to use the motorway rides.
This approach is intended to emphasise Waymo's focus on continuous safety and technology improvement.
What experience is there with robotaxis in real traffic?
Waymo has many years of experience in operating autonomous vehicles
- Over 20 million miles of real-world driving experience in countless situations
- Millions of autonomously driven kilometres with Class 8 trucks and cars on motorways, accompanied by specialists
- Successful operation of a fully autonomous, publicly accessible driving service in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Where are Waymo One robotaxis available?
Waymo One, the company's autonomous driving service, is currently available in the following regions:
Phoenix: 24/7 in an area of 315 square miles
San Francisco: In the entire metropolitan area and in Daly City
Los Angeles: In a 63-square-mile area from Santa Monica to downtown LA
An expansion to Austin is already being planned..
How safe is the Waymo Driver technology?
The Waymo Driver, Waymo's autonomous driving technology, uses a combination of LiDAR, cameras, radar and powerful AI to create a 360-degree view of the environment and safely navigate it. The vehicles have an all-round view of up to 500 metres, which works day and night as well as in adverse weather conditions.
What challenges still need to be overcome for autonomous driving services?
Despite the progress made, some challenges remain:
- Higher speeds require sensors with greater range and faster response time
- Potential errors can have more serious consequences at higher speeds
- Public trust in autonomous vehicles on motorways must be further strengthened.