Posted on 07/28/2023 9:32:55 PM PDT by texas booster
Waymo is tapping the brakes on self-driving trucks and shifting most of its capital, resources and talent to one commercial bet: ride-hailing.
The move, which was announced Wednesday in a company blog post, comes six years after Waymo first tested its autonomous vehicle system in Class 8 trucks. The company emphasized the decision was driven by the commercial opportunities in applying its autonomous vehicle technology to ride-hailing.
Robotaxis (or ride-hailing using driverless vehicles) have always been a centerpiece of Waymo’s plans. However, many AV developers pivoted to logistics and delivery because it was viewed as the better nearer-term economic bet. Even Waymo got into the action and ramped up its delivery and trucking development.
Now the company is doubling down on ride-hailing. ...
As a result, Waymo will “push back the timeline” on its commercial and operational efforts on trucking, as well as most of the technical development on that business unit, Dolgov and Mawakana wrote. While Waymo insists it still intends to apply its autonomous vehicle system to trucking, it didn’t provide further details on when it might renew the program or launch a commercial business.
The vast majority of employees on Waymo’s trucking team have taken other roles within the company. A few number of individuals will be affected by the change but will be helping with the wind down of the program. Waymo did not provide further details on exactly how many people may be impacted.
(Excerpt) Read more at techcrunch.com ...
Waymo was testing self driving class 8 trucks between Dallas and Houston. Looks like they will be holding off for now.
But moving solely to compete in ride hailing?
Well, the robot driver may not rob or rape the passenger, but has many other ways to inflict pain on the rider.
In 2019, they said their priority was commercial autonomous trucks, not ride-hailing.
Now they say ride-hailing is the priority....
Sounds like an accident waiting to happen
Self driving... I want full control when I’m in a vehicle. Wife has a 2023 xc40 Volvo. POS in my view. Has all the driver assist crap that has been shutoff. You drive down the road and slams on the brakes for collision avoidance with nothing there. This has happened numerous times in the 10 months we’ve had it. Backing out of the garage, same thing and there’s nothing there. It’s like you hit a wall.
Volvo has updated SW from 2.1 through 2.10. 9 updates since we bought it. Same shxt. It fixes nothing. Not to mention it’s a Google infotainment/navigation system that I refuse to set up an account and log into.
Looks nice, rides nice, lot of power but the electronics and computer side suck. 48vdc systemfor whatever reason.
Told the service manager my 75 Vette is more reliable on the highway and I could rewire the whole car with 3 twenty foot extension cords and no computer.
Exactly the stereotype I was thinking of.
That movie got a lot correct about the future ... but so far I haven't seen Lycia Naff ...
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