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Waymo believes that the technology behind his new autonomous vehicles is safe. The CEO of Waymo has announced that he would purchase up to 20,000 electric vehicles at Jaguar Land Rover to help realize his vision of a robotic relay service. (March 27)
AP
A standalone MPV Waymo.(Photo: Waymo LLC)
SAN FRANCISCO – Later this year, Waymo, the maker of autonomous cars of Alphabet, provides a historic first: to offer the general public an autonomous fleet.
After nearly a decade of building and testing its self-driving cars – which has just crossed the milestone of 10 million miles – the former Google Car Project is about to start on what will eventually be autonomous car in 25 American cities.
So, what does it take to entrust your daily driving tasks to a robot?
At least two Phoenix residents, participants of a 400-year-old Waymo test program in the sprawling city of Arizona, claim that shopping with an autonomous car, is a bit like to drive with his grandmother, for better and for worse.
"There is some commotion in driving, it is slow around people or trees and can be slow to turn in an intersection, but it feels very safe," said Barbara Adams, 68, of Tempe, who, along with her husband Jim, regularly uses Waymo's autonomous Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids to travel to the local mall.
Lilla Gaffney, 29, of Mesa, describes herself as a "worried person". The cautious nature of Waymo's cars suits him very well.
Like its often non-existent pilot – while most Pacificas arrive with a Waymo safety driver monitoring the steering wheel, sometimes no human is in command while the company is experimenting with a technology really without a driver.
Once the Waymo Pacifica is displayed, all you have to do is jump in, close the mini-van's sliding door and press the big blue "Start Ride" button. Another button is there in case of emergency and summons Waymo staff with a call.
"I'm lonely, so not having to talk to a driver (taxi or transportation service) is a benefit," said Gaffney. "But most of all, I feel safer." Once, the Waymo (vehicle) paused before turning and I wondered why. "Then a car burned red light and crashed into the car. median, she saw this car well before me. "
These highly praised testimonials, which come from the Waymo test pilots connected to the United States today, certainly do not give a complete picture of the situation. In August, the technical website The Information interviewed residents of Phoenix, some of whom described Waymo cars cutting traffic at excessive speed or stopping abruptly.
Lilla Gaffney, software product specialist in the Phoenix area, uses Waymo's self-driving cars to go to the gym and shop every day, and loves being alone with a robot at the helm. (Photo: Waymo)
But the fact remains that after millions of kilometers of city driving, 7 billion kilometers of virtual testing and countless additional tests have been conducted in a fake private city. In California, Waymo vehicles have not yet caused a major accident. When skirmishes occur, this is often because human drivers are hitting robots cars.
This safety record is particularly critical considering the fatality in Phoenix last spring, caused by a Volvo self-driven by Uber who failed to spot a pedestrian crossing his path. The driver of the car was distracted by a mobile phone and reacted too late.
This incident caused Uber to withdraw from his Arizona test program and rethink his autonomous car strategy.
Waymo is one of dozens of companies, ranging from automakers to small startups, who test autonomous vehicles. There are still obstacles to overcome, including snow and bad weather and the conquest of consumers.
After the Uber accident and a series of Tesla crashes involving this automaker 's autopilot system, the AAA reported that 73% of survey respondents said that it was not safe to fly. they would be too afraid to drive in a fully autonomous vehicle, compared to 63% at the end of 2017.
After the Uber crash, Waymo quietly continued to test its Chrysler fleet, which will soon be joined by tens of thousands of JaguarLandRover vehicles, and set itself the goal of launching the autonomous driving program for all residents of the region late 2018.
"Our test program in Phoenix has opened our eyes to many real world scenarios that we have not thought of," John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, a former Hyundai executive, told TODAY USA. "So while the first 10 million kilometers were entirely dedicated to safety, the next 10 million can also focus on an improved driver experience."
According to Krafcik, many of its test pilots use cars several times a week, from carpooling trips to rides to sports events for children. And then, there are countless trips to the area's shopping centers, which can provide a welcome air-conditioned respite from the burning heat of Arizona.
"Navigating the parking lots can be very difficult for an autonomous car," said Krafcik, pointing out that the lawless nature of these spaces means that the vehicle must be ready for all kinds of surprises.
The human spare driver in an autonomous SUV Uber was broadcasting the TV show "The Voice" and looked down just before hitting a pedestrian mortally, police said. (June 22)
AP
Waymo cars – called by an application similar to those proposed by Uber and Lyft, but remain free for the moment for the test runners – are programmed to drop the passengers as close as possible to the entrances of the shopping center.
For example, pickups in grocery stores, for example, are better executed near the cars' return locations for maximum efficiency.
"Our service needs to focus on comfort and convenience, as well as safety," says Krafcik.
Not to mention the price, given that, once the autonomous shuttles released, consumers could choose to drive their car or hail a taxi, an Uber or a Lyft.
That's why Waymo recently partnered with retailers in the Phoenix area, such as Walmart and AutoZone, as part of an agreement to subsidize certain trips in the form of discounts for shoppers in these outlets.
John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, and Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, with an I-Pace Jaguar equipped with Waymo's autonomous driving technology. (Photo: Jaguar Land Rover)
Retired marine biologist, Adams' first pilot said that the cost of a future Waymo hike will affect his decision to use the service. "If all of a sudden it's $ 10 to go to the grocery store, I'll have to think twice," she says.
What he would miss, though, is that "when I'm in the Waymo, I'm so much more relaxed than when I'm driving or driving." I notice that I'm not paying attention to driving, and generally just doing whatever thing on my phone. "
As for Gaffney, a software development specialist, as long as the cost of a Waymo trip is not excessive, she is ready.
More: Waymo will offer Walmart Walks with its self-driving cars
More: The Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Involved in an Arizona Accident
More: Uber ends its controversial trucking effort centered on autonomous cars
Beyond the car's cautiousness, she feels safer by being alone with a computer at the helm – especially since Uber and Lyft have been at the center of the attacks over the years to create dangerous environments for women due to incidents of sexual harassment on the part of men drivers.
"To be honest, I'd like to get rid of my car and trust only Waymo," she says. But Gaffney adds that the nature of the company's driving program in the city would present occasional problems.
"I imagine that I still need a car for some things, like going on fun roads," she says. "A Waymo can not drive me (300 miles) to Las Vegas, at least not yet."
Follow USA TODAY Marco Della Cava, writer of the nation: @marcodellacava
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