Waymo's robotaxis are heading to Denver and Seattle next
So, Waymo, the self-driving car company, is gearing up to hit the streets of Denver and Seattle. I think it's pretty cool how these autonomous vehicles are slowly making their way into more cities. The company made it official, letting everyone know they're expanding into these two new locations.
According to reports, they're starting with a small fleet – around a dozen vehicles – in each city. But here's the thing: these initial drives will have humans behind the wheel. It's like they're easing into things, getting a feel for the local roads and traffic patterns before letting the robots take over completely. Which is good because I definitely don't trust them 100% yet.
The fleet will be a mix of the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace and the Geely Zeekr vehicles. I'm personally curious to see how these vehicles handle the unique challenges of each city. Denver, with its unpredictable weather and mountainous terrain, and Seattle, with its rainy conditions and dense urban environment, will definitely put Waymo's technology to the test.
Waymo stated that they'll be driving manually first to validate their tech and operations before launching fully autonomous services. Which is a smart move. I imagine the data they collect during these manual drives will be invaluable for refining their algorithms and ensuring a smooth transition to full autonomy.
It seems like this year has been a busy one for Waymo. They announced plans to expand to ten new cities by 2025, and they've already launched in Atlanta through a partnership with Uber. Plus, they introduced a teen account option, which I find a bit concerning, not going to lie.
And let's not forget that they recently got the green light to test their cars in New York City. So, yeah, Waymo is definitely making moves. I think it's only a matter of time before self-driving cars become a common sight on our roads, and I am unsure if I love or hate it.
Source: Engadget