This is why Waymo self-driving cars are about to take over your city
Published on Nov 29, 2023 at 3:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Kate Bain
Last updated on Dec 04, 2023 at 9:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
This is the most advanced fully autonomous driving technology on the road today.
Called Waymo One, it’s a ride-hail service driven by AI, and it’s already being used in a handful of cities across North America.
Supercar Blondie’s Alex Hirschi just flew to San Francisco to check it out, and it’s seriously impressive.
READ MORE! This car has moving body parts and secret tech in every corner
Google launched this as a self-driving car project back in 2009, and now it’s fully operational and its own company.
Waymo self-driving cars are already on the road in Phoenix and San Francisco, and are about to be rolled out in Los Angeles and Austin.
In fact, California just granted them approval to begin charging fares in San Francisco.
The company uses the same type of car for every ride; the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE.
These Jaguars have been completely decked out with a single, integrated system of sensors that work together to give them a comprehensive view of the world around them.
So how does it work?
The car is covered in sensors that help it understand where it is, who’s around it, and what it should do to safely navigate.
The cameras around the car (29 in total!) can detect objects like traffic lights or construction zones,
Lidar sends pulses in all directions to paint a 3D picture of its surroundings and measure the size and distance of objects around the car.
The company started rides in Arizona first because the weather was so good, then it moved to other cities like San Francisco where it would have to navigate busier road conditions and sketchier weather conditions.
But even in rain or heavy fog, these Waymo self-driving cars aren’t facing any issues.
The process is pretty similar to other human-driven ride-hail services but you don’t have to deal with an often cranky or stressed out driver.
This is how simple it is…
When you order the car, you can access it using your mobile phone.
Then once inside, you just press ‘start ride’ on the display screen or directly from the app.
It will even detect if you’re not wearing your seatbelt.
And if you don’t put it on, the car will actually alert a real human who will call you and tell you to wear it.
The self-driving cars have simple and easy-to-use display screens in the front and back.
These give you the option to call support, pull over, change the temperature, and play your own music.
Essentially, it’s everything you need wrapped up in one little, super-advanced Jaguar.
But don’t take our word for it, watch the vid and check it out for yourself.
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Kate Bain is the Page Editor at supercarblondie.com. She is based in Dubai and coordinates coverage of the latest news across automotive, technology, and lifestyle. Kate has a bachelor's degree in business and post graduate in journalism. She is an experienced editor and journalist who has worked for News Corp, Daily Mail Australia, and Sky News. When she's not at work, you'll find her attached at the hip to her dog, Thor. Kate is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her first child.