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Waymo will start testing its robotaxis on highways in Phoenix with out a human security driver. The rides will likely be out there solely to firm staff, and their visitors, to start out. Waymo’s autos have been allowed on highways however required a human security driver within the entrance seat to deal with any points.
This system will begin exterior of rush-hour intervals and will finally ramp as much as a 24-hour service. The lack to make use of highways has been a disadvantage of taking a robotaxi in comparison with conventional taxis or Ubers. Including freeway service might make journeys extra environment friendly and encourage extra individuals to make use of the service. Waymo mentioned including highways might cut back drive occasions 50% on sure routes.
“The flexibility to make the most of freeways will likely be particularly vital as we scale our operations to different cities,” the corporate wrote in a weblog asserting the freeway testing. “For that reason, we’re laser-focused on our freeway ride-hailing testing.”
When requested if there are pace restrictions for its driverless assessments on highways, a Waymo spokesperson informed The Robotic Report: “The Waymo Driver abides by the posted pace restrict however may also reply to dynamic conditions like lowering its pace for building or adjusting its pace to soundly execute a lane change.”
Waymo operates its ride-hailing service throughout 225 sq. miles in metro Phoenix, however it solely makes use of floor streets. The corporate mentioned it has been step by step ramping up testing on highways over the past 12 months. It additionally has a robotaxi service up in working in San Francisco. It additionally not too long ago launched a robotaxi tour in Los Angeles in hopes of quickly launching a service there, too.
Instance Waymo One route utilizing highways (left) versus utilizing solely floor streets. | Credit score: Waymo
Waymo capitalizing on autonomous trucking expertise
Waymo has loads of freeway driving expertise because of its autonomous trucking service, Waymo By way of. It started quietly testing autonomous vans in 2017 earlier than launching a pilot in Atlanta in 2018 after which formally launching its trucking division in 2020. It had a number of partnerships, together with J.B. Hunt, Ryder, Uber Freight and UPS.
Nonetheless, Waymo pumped the brakes on autonomous trucking about six months in the past. It determined to “double down” on robotaxis. Whereas some engineers from the trucking division have been laid off, many took different positions on the firm. Whereas class-8 vans are definitely a lot completely different than robotaxis, Waymo is hoping to pivot among the expertise and classes discovered from vans to robotaxis.
One other potential differentiator
In the intervening time, Waymo doesn’t have a lot competitors within the U.S. Following many incidents, Cruise paused operations nationwide and laid off 900 staff, or 24% of its workforce. Might Mobility not too long ago launched an autonomous shuttle service for residents of a retirement group in Phoenix. Nevertheless it’s a small deployment. Two autonomous minivans will likely be out there to a choose group of early riders who stay in Solar Metropolis. The service will cowl about 4.5 miles of Solar Metropolis, bringing the early riders to a wide range of spots corresponding to resident buildings, medical facilities, and different key areas.
In December 2023, Waymo began providing curbside drop-off and pickup on the Phoenix airport. And in October 2023, its robotaxi service turned out there on Uber in Phoenix. Freeway driving can be a significant win for Waymo in Phoenix and, hopefully, different cities within the not-to-distant future.
A Waymo robotaxi driving on a freeway in Phoenix.