Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit owned by Alphabet, has recently made headlines with its latest innovation: the sixth generation of self-driving technology. On Monday, the company showcased this new driverless technology, which is integrated with Geely Zeekr electric vehicles, at its Mountain View, California facility.
What's exciting about this development is the enhanced capability to manage diverse weather conditions, all without relying heavily on expensive cameras and sensors. Satish Jeyachandran, Waymo’s vice president of engineering, expressed confidence about expediting this generation's market introduction compared to previous iterations, thanks to recent advancements in machine learning and semiconductor technology.
Waymo has been steadily scaling its commercial robotaxi service, which launched back in 2018. Currently, its operations are focused on major Sunbelt cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Los Angeles.
Remarkably, the company is now conducting around 50,000 paid driverless trips every week, primarily within San Francisco and Phoenix. Since its inception, Waymo's service has successfully completed over 2 million trips, demonstrating its growing presence and reliability.
Just last month, Alphabet announced a significant investment of $5 billion aimed at bolstering Waymo's operations. This funding is earmarked for scaling, which includes the integration of the new robotaxis to its existing fleet once the Generation 6 models have undergone thorough testing and validation.
The upcoming Waymo-Zeekr model resembles the existing Waymo I-PACE SUVs but is boxier, providing more accessibility. Features such as lower step thresholds, higher ceilings, and more legroom between rows of seats are intended to make the ride comfortable for passengers.
This new generation also marks a shift toward fewer onboard sensors, with the number of cameras reduced from 29 to 13 and lidar sensors cut down from five to four. This significant change is aimed at lowering robotaxi costs without sacrificing performance.
Waymo has continuously worked on refining its array of sensors and software, which include not just cameras but also lidar and radar systems. The unique configuration around the Zeekr vehicles allows for a comprehensive 360-degree view of the surroundings, which is instrumental for obstacle detection and avoidance.
To keep the sensors functional even under adverse weather conditions, they come equipped with wipers to remove dirt and precipitation. Testing for Generation 6 is presently underway on public roads, involving professional drivers as part of the validation process.
Waymo's testing locations extend beyond sunny California, with additional validations taking place across cities like Detroit, Buffalo, and New York. This approach helps assess how the autonomous vehicles react to different traffic patterns and weather conditions.
Despite the competition from companies like Didi and Pony.ai offering robotaxi services in China, Waymo faces minimal rivalry domestically. Meanwhile, GM-owned Cruise has encountered hurdles, and earlier efforts by Uber and Ford have been wrapped up, easing Waymo's path.
Even though Tesla has not yet launched any driverless vehicles, it plans to reveal its dedicated robotaxi this coming October. Waymo's consistent efforts and recent technological advancements signal its intent to retain leadership as the market for self-driving services expands.
