Waymo Explains Why Its Robotaxis Got Stuck During SF Blackout

Waymo's Robotaxis Struggle During SF Blackout

Waymo, the self-driving car company, has explained why its robotaxis got stuck during the recent San Francisco blackout. The company's robotaxis navigated more than 7,000 dark stoplights successfully on Saturday, but the blackout caused some issues.

According to Waymo, the robotaxis used a combination of sensors and mapping data to navigate the dark streets. However, the lack of power to the traffic lights caused some confusion for the robotaxis. Waymo's system is designed to handle unexpected situations like this, but it's not perfect.

The company's robotaxis are equipped with a range of sensors, including lidar, radar, and cameras. These sensors allow the robotaxis to detect and respond to their surroundings, even in the absence of power to the traffic lights. However, the blackout highlighted some limitations of the system.

Waymo's robotaxis are designed to operate in a variety of conditions, including heavy rain, snow, and even power outages. However, the company is still working to improve the system's performance in these situations.

How Waymo's Robotaxis Handle Power Outages

Waymo's robotaxis use a combination of sensors and mapping data to navigate the streets. When a power outage occurs, the robotaxis use their sensors to detect the absence of power to the traffic lights. The system then uses its mapping data to determine the best course of action.

In the case of the recent San Francisco blackout, Waymo's robotaxis were able to navigate more than 7,000 dark stoplights successfully. However, the lack of power to the traffic lights caused some confusion for the robotaxis.

Conclusion

Waymo's robotaxis are designed to operate in a variety of conditions, including heavy rain, snow, and even power outages. However, the company is still working to improve the system's performance in these situations. The recent San Francisco blackout highlighted some limitations of the system, but Waymo is confident that its robotaxis can handle unexpected situations like this.

Sources

[1] Waymo explains why its robotaxis got stuck during the SF blackout