Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, is making significant strides in the development of its autonomous vehicle technology. After years of testing, the company has announced that it will send its fully driverless cars onto freeways for the first time. This move marks a notable expansion of Waymo’s driverless car program, which has been gradually unfolding over the past few years.
Waymo has been offering robotaxi rides to regular people enrolled in its Waymo One ridesharing program in Phoenix and San Francisco. However, this latest development is a major step forward, as it will allow the company’s fully driverless cars to navigate high-speed roads, significantly reducing journey times by up to 50%. The ability to utilize freeways will be crucial as Waymo scales its operations to other cities, and the company is “laser-focused” on its freeway ride-hailing testing.
The company has a strong track record of operating fleets of autonomous vehicles on public roads, with millions of miles of experience operating autonomous class 8 trucks and cars on freeways with a specialist present. Waymo’s safety record is also impressive, having accumulated years of safe and proven experience operating fleets of rider-only vehicles on public roads across California and Arizona.
Waymo’s Momentum: Autonomous Vehicles Take to Freeways
The move to freeways is a significant milestone for Waymo, as it will allow the company to demonstrate its autonomous technology in a more challenging environment. The company knows that regulators and the wider public will be watching closely to see how its autonomous vehicles perform on faster roads. Waymo’s ability to operate fully driverless cars on highways will be a major test of its technology, and the company is confident that it has prepared well for this expansion.
The road to this point has not been without its challenges. Waymo’s rival, Cruise, suffered a serious incident last year, in which a driverless car it operated in San Francisco came to a stop on top of a woman. The incident prompted California regulators to revoke Cruise’s permit to test its driverless cars in the state, and Cruise has since laid off a significant number of its employees. Despite this setback, Cruise remains committed to its autonomous vehicle program and is expected to resume testing sometime this year.
Waymo’s move to freeways is a significant step forward for the company, and it demonstrates the potential of autonomous vehicle technology to transform the way we travel. As the company continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, it is likely to face further challenges and setbacks. However, with its strong track record and commitment to its technology, Waymo is well-positioned to navigate these challenges and continue to drive innovation in the field of autonomous vehicles.
