Source: The Verge
Summary
Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle testing to Chicago and Charlotte, where it will begin mapping and collecting data. The company also announced that it is currently operating its robotaxis fully autonomously in 10 US cities.
Our Reading
The launch follows a familiar script.
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will be hitting the streets of Chicago and Charlotte, because what could possibly go wrong. The company is already operating fully autonomously in 10 US cities, which is just a nice way of saying “beta testing with passengers”.
Mapping the Same Old Territory
Waymo’s expansion to new cities is being hailed as a major milestone, but let’s be real, it’s just more of the same. The company is still trying to perfect its autonomous driving technology, and mapping new cities is just a necessary step in that process.
Autonomous, But Not Really
Waymo’s claim that it’s operating fully autonomously in 10 US cities is a bit misleading. What it really means is that the company’s vehicles are still being tested and refined, and human drivers are likely still on standby in case something goes wrong.
Chicago and Charlotte, Get Ready for the Future (Again)
The people of Chicago and Charlotte can look forward to seeing Waymo’s autonomous vehicles on their streets soon. But let’s not get too excited, this is just the latest iteration of a technology that’s been in development for years.
Just Another Step in the Long Road to Autonomy
Waymo’s expansion to new cities is just one small step in the long journey to perfecting autonomous driving technology. There’s still a lot of work to be done before we can truly say that autonomous vehicles are ready for prime time.
Author: Evan Null
