Tag: Waymo

  • Elon Musk: Model Y Robotaxi Pilot to Enhance Safety Like Waymo

    Elon Musk: Model Y Robotaxi Pilot to Enhance Safety Like Waymo

    Key Takeaways

    1. Waymo celebrates its ten millionth paid autonomous ride, while Tesla’s robotaxi service is set to launch in June.
    2. Tesla’s pilot program will start with ten Model Y vehicles operating only in the safest areas of Austin, using geofencing similar to Waymo’s approach.
    3. Musk claims Tesla’s AI can adapt quickly to driving situations, but they will still use pre-mapping and geofencing.
    4. Tesla’s Model Y robotaxis will have operators ready to intervene, and training for local first responders has begun.
    5. There is a debate on safety between Tesla’s cost-saving approach and Waymo’s use of LiDAR and extra sensors for enhanced safety.

    While Waymo is proud to announce that it has completed its ten millionth paid autonomous ride, Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has stated that their own robotaxi service, set to launch in June, will be very similar.

    Pilot Program Details

    Musk mentioned that the initial rollout will start small, featuring around ten Model Y vehicles. These will only operate in the “safest” parts of Austin, where the pilot will take place. This approach seems to echo the geofencing methods used by Waymo, even if Musk has often criticized their strategy.

    AI and Safety Measures

    During the last earnings call, Musk promoted Tesla’s “generalized” AI system, which he claims can quickly adapt to different driving situations without needing detailed maps like other companies. However, it appears that Tesla will indeed undertake pre-mapping and geofencing.

    “We are actually going to deploy not to the full Austin area, but just the safest parts,” revealed Musk. “So we will geofence it… It’s not going to take intersections unless we are really confident it will do well,” he added.

    Safety Protocols

    Even though the Model Y robotaxis will operate without a driver, there will be operators ready to step in if necessary, similar to Waymo’s setup. Tesla has already begun training Austin first responders and police on how to handle its driverless robotaxis, suggesting that the platform will initially follow a traditional model like others in the industry.

    The key selling point is that Tesla will use standard Model Y vehicles, which are 20%-25% cheaper per unit than the customized Waymo vehicles equipped with LiDAR and additional sensors, according to Musk.

    Different Perspectives on Safety

    However, John Krafcik, Waymo’s former CEO, disagrees, arguing that the cost savings from using Tesla’s vehicles aren’t worth the potential safety risks. He contends that the LiDAR and extra sensors have a “trivial cost-per-mile impact over the useful life of a robotaxi while also providing massive quantifiable safety benefits.”

    In the end, it’s unclear whose approach will prove more successful in the long run, as Tesla prepares to kick off its robotaxi venture next month in Austin with a limited fleet and within a geofenced area.

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  • Tesla Seeks Ride-Hailing License for Human Drivers

    Tesla Seeks Ride-Hailing License for Human Drivers

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla has applied for a ride-hailing permit in California to enhance its robotaxi service.
    2. The permit allows Tesla to compete directly with companies like Waymo and Uber.
    3. Discussions with state officials indicate potential involvement of human drivers alongside autonomous vehicles.
    4. Waymo currently offers a driverless ride-hailing service in multiple locations, while Tesla has not yet applied for a driverless vehicle permit.
    5. Tesla plans to launch its Unsupervised Full Self-Driving service in Austin, Texas, with hopes of expanding to other US cities by the end of the year.

    Tesla seems to be making strides with its robotaxi service as it applies for a ride-hailing permit in California. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that the company submitted a request for a “transportation charter-party carrier permit” to the California Public Utilities Commission in late 2024.

    Competing with Major Players

    This permit will enable Tesla to go head-to-head with companies like Waymo and Uber. Notably, Uber’s CEO mentioned that Tesla chose to develop its ride-hailing service independently rather than collaborating with Uber. Discussions between Tesla and state officials have included topics such as driver’s licenses and drug testing, hinting that there might still be human drivers in the mix. The type of permit Tesla is seeking indicates that the company will own the vehicles rather than relying on individual drivers.

    Waymo’s Driverless Service

    Waymo currently provides a driverless ride-hailing service in various areas, including Metro Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. However, a spokesperson from Tesla informed Bloomberg that the company has neither applied for nor received a permit for testing or deploying driverless vehicles.

    Future Plans for Tesla

    Nevertheless, Tesla has announced plans to introduce its Unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Austin, Texas, in June, featuring the Cybercab as a paid option. While Tesla hasn’t secured regulatory approval in any location, CEO Elon Musk has expressed intentions to roll out the autonomous ride-hailing service in multiple cities across the US before the year concludes.

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  • Waymo to Launch Autonomous Car Testing in Tokyo Next Year

    Waymo to Launch Autonomous Car Testing in Tokyo Next Year

    Alphabet’s self-driving division, Waymo, plans to start testing autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, next year. This initiative will see Waymo collaborating with Nihon Kotsu, the largest taxi service in Japan, to conduct trials with its Jaguar I-PACE cars in the city.

    Mapping Important Areas

    According to reports from CNBC, drivers from Nihon Kotsu will take control of the cars to map significant regions in Tokyo, such as Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chuo, Shinagawa, and Koto.

    The information collected will be essential for training Waymo’s artificial intelligence systems. Additionally, the company will test its robotaxis on a specially designed track in the US, which will recreate Japanese driving conditions.

    Collaborating with Local Partners

    Waymo expressed its excitement for the upcoming venture, stating that the trip to Tokyo will allow them to collaborate with local stakeholders, officials, and community groups to better grasp the new environment. Nihon Kotsu has agreed to take care of managing and servicing the Waymo fleet in Japan.

    In a move to enhance customer service, Waymo has teamed up with the GO taxi app in Japan to provide rides to users. Currently, Waymo operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in the US, and has raised a total of $5.6 billion (£4.4 or €5.3) to support its expansion plans in Austin and Atlanta.

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