Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, has recently revealed plans to expand its testing of driverless vehicles to include highways and freeways. The company will begin conducting experiments in and around Phoenix in the coming weeks, utilizing their autonomous Jaguar I-Pace SUV. This development marks a significant step forward in bringing fully self-driving cars closer to reality.
While Waymo had previously partnered with Uber to offer driverless taxis in the city, these vehicles were limited to operating on city streets at low speeds. Now, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will be venturing onto the highway, demonstrating the potential for a future where driving becomes an obsolete task.
Initially, these highway tests will only be accessible to Waymo employees and their guests. However, as the vehicles prove their safety and reliability over time, Waymo plans to extend the service to the general public. The data collected during these tests will also be utilized to enhance routing efficiency throughout the area, with a specific focus on improving transportation to and from Phoenix airports.
Waymo’s decision to remove the need for a safety specialist in the front seat during highway tests underscores their confidence in the capabilities of their self-driving technology. The company has incrementally increased testing on freeways over the past year to prepare for this momentous move.
Unlike its competitor, Cruise, which has faced setbacks and safety concerns, Waymo has built a strong reputation for safety. According to their own safety data, Waymo’s driverless vehicles have traveled over seven million miles in California and Arizona, with only three minor injuries reported.
As advancements in autonomous vehicle technology continue to progress, the prospect of self-driving cars navigating highways becomes increasingly tangible. Waymo’s expansion of testing brings us one step closer to a future where the burden of driving is lifted from our shoulders, revolutionizing transportation as we know it.
The source of the article is from the blog bitperfect.pe