Waymo Self-Driving Cars use lasers to constantly guide safe driving

Waymo, Google’s self-driving car company, is building the world’s most experienced driver, with over 10 million miles self-driven on public roads and almost 7 billion in simulation. Discover what we’ve seen and learned along the way from literal curveballs in our path, to navigating low-visibility dust storms, and more unexpected scenarios.

The car has lasers and radar to look for people, cars and road obstacles all the time.

115 thoughts on “Waymo Self-Driving Cars use lasers to constantly guide safe driving”

  1. Now take it to Kenya, India or Mexico and see how well it fares. If it works there, then I’ll be impressed.

  2. Now take it to Kenya India or Mexico and see how well it fares.If it works there then I’ll be impressed.

  3. My point, really. This technology needs to be proven across all the automobile usage cases and contexts across the globe, for really be considered a viable substitute for car drivers worldwide. In those cases, the car AI could supplement a human driver acting as caretaker of the automated car, not replace it.

  4. My point really.This technology needs to be proven across all the automobile usage cases and contexts across the globe for really be considered a viable substitute for car drivers worldwide.In those cases the car AI could supplement a human driver acting as caretaker of the automated car not replace it.

  5. But you don’t need to be able to substitute for car drivers world wide. There are lots of, probably most, vehicles that are intended for a particular type of market and that’s where they are sold. You don’t say that Ferraris aren’t a viable car just because you can’t drive one across Africa.

  6. But you don’t need to be able to substitute for car drivers world wide. There are lots of probably most vehicles that are intended for a particular type of market and that’s where they are sold.You don’t say that Ferraris aren’t a viable car just because you can’t drive one across Africa.

  7. I would expect the first application for self driving would be regular freight trips for companies like UPS, from hub parking lot, to hub, or center parking lot, and back. Now, drivers meet, swap trucks, and drive home on long trips, or swap trailers for short ones. The trucks need no refueling at truck stops, backup trucks are available, and there are mechanics available every operating day. Considering what a teamster earns, with benefits, the savings would be astronomical. Of course, you’d have to beat the union into submission.

  8. I would expect the first application for self driving would be regular freight trips for companies like UPS from hub parking lot to hub or center parking lot and back. Now drivers meet swap trucks and drive home on long trips or swap trailers for short ones. The trucks need no refueling at truck stops backup trucks are available and there are mechanics available every operating day. Considering what a teamster earns with benefits the savings would be astronomical. Of course you’d have to beat the union into submission.

  9. Agree. The fact many places can’t get their act together shouldn’t (and won’t) stop the progress elsewhere. My point is more against SDC triumphalism, talking about a golden future when nobody will drive ever again and people could live in modular mobile homes over the road, etc. common among futurist sites nowadays.

  10. Agree. The fact many places can’t get their act together shouldn’t (and won’t) stop the progress elsewhere.My point is more against SDC triumphalism talking about a golden future when nobody will drive ever again and people could live in modular mobile homes over the road etc. common among futurist sites nowadays.

  11. Is a rocket motor or space ship tech? Or is it old school refined. Refined will continue to be the motor of economies. Tech is currently over valued because it is the flavor of the day. But tech is nothing more than a road to an end. It is nothing in and of itself. A robot that is self controlled, self motivated and self powering is both the future and the end.

  12. Is a rocket motor or space ship tech? Or is it old school refined. Refined will continue to be the motor of economies. Tech is currently over valued because it is the flavor of the day. But tech is nothing more than a road to an end. It is nothing in and of itself. A robot that is self controlled self motivated and self powering is both the future and the end.

  13. But that’s just saying that only companies that make radical changes in the world will have a big impact on the future. It’s still not clear that this is anything other than restating the question.

  14. The kind of “Tech” I’m referring to is Disruption. So what I’m really saying is companies with the ability to disrupt an established market is the future. That’s a Tech Company.

  15. So, the definition of a “Tech Company” that I’m using is actually in regards to the model that Silicon Valley produces. There’s 2 main requirements for a company to be “Tech”: 1. The innovation it produces must be data driven. 2. The company must demonstrate the ability to disrupt a market using that data driven innovation. The 2nd requirement is probably more poignant as it is the true test of a tech company and I say they’re the future because disruption is the only way we can remake the market without artificial manipulation.

  16. Didn’t we kill off SDC triumphalism the first time that an “impossible, it will never, ever happen” fatal SDC car crash occurred?

  17. That’s true by definition. If an industry isn’t innovating, then it isn’t changing, growing and developing to lead the future. If it IS innovating, then by definition it is new technology. All you’ve said is that only industries that change and develop will be different than they are now.

  18. But that’s just saying that only companies that make radical changes in the world will have a big impact on the future. It’s still not clear that this is anything other than restating the question.

  19. The kind of Tech”” I’m referring to is Disruption. So what I’m really saying is companies with the ability to disrupt an established market is the future. That’s a Tech Company.”””

  20. So the definition of a Tech Company”” that I’m using is actually in regards to the model that Silicon Valley produces. There’s 2 main requirements for a company to be “”””Tech””””:1. The innovation it produces must be data driven.2. The company must demonstrate the ability to disrupt a market using that data driven innovation.The 2nd requirement is probably more poignant as it is the true test of a tech company and I say they’re the future because disruption is the only way we can remake the market without artificial manipulation.”””

  21. Didn’t we kill off SDC triumphalism the first time that an impossible it will never” ever happen”” fatal SDC car crash occurred?”””

  22. That’s true by definition. If an industry isn’t innovating then it isn’t changing growing and developing to lead the future.If it IS innovating then by definition it is new technology.All you’ve said is that only industries that change and develop will be different than they are now.

  23. At the end of the day, when you talk about oil fracking, you’re still really talking about the Energy market. So, not just oil, but all of energy. Solar, etc.

  24. Well… actually, I take that back. Its innovation must be data driven. Fracking is certainly innovation, but I’m talking about the kind of innovation that shifts the entire paradigm of the market. Like solar to replace oil and coal, not just progressive innovation within an established industry.

  25. At the end of the day when you talk about oil fracking you’re still really talking about the Energy market. So not just oil but all of energy. Solar etc.

  26. Well… actually I take that back. Its innovation must be data driven. Fracking is certainly innovation but I’m talking about the kind of innovation that shifts the entire paradigm of the market. Like solar to replace oil and coal not just progressive innovation within an established industry.

  27. Well, humans need neither radar nor lasers, but can drive well (well a fraction of humans anyway.) So there is a lot of room left for improvement.

  28. Well humans need neither radar nor lasers but can drive well (well a fraction of humans anyway.)So there is a lot of room left for improvement.

  29. Well, humans need neither radar nor lasers, but can drive well (well a fraction of humans anyway.) So there is a lot of room left for improvement.

  30. Well humans need neither radar nor lasers but can drive well (well a fraction of humans anyway.)So there is a lot of room left for improvement.

  31. Well, humans need neither radar nor lasers, but can drive well (well a fraction of humans anyway.)

    So there is a lot of room left for improvement.

  32. At the end of the day, when you talk about oil fracking, you’re still really talking about the Energy market. So, not just oil, but all of energy. Solar, etc.

  33. At the end of the day when you talk about oil fracking you’re still really talking about the Energy market. So not just oil but all of energy. Solar etc.

  34. Well… actually, I take that back. Its innovation must be data driven. Fracking is certainly innovation, but I’m talking about the kind of innovation that shifts the entire paradigm of the market. Like solar to replace oil and coal, not just progressive innovation within an established industry.

  35. Well… actually I take that back. Its innovation must be data driven. Fracking is certainly innovation but I’m talking about the kind of innovation that shifts the entire paradigm of the market. Like solar to replace oil and coal not just progressive innovation within an established industry.

  36. But that’s just saying that only companies that make radical changes in the world will have a big impact on the future. It’s still not clear that this is anything other than restating the question.

  37. But that’s just saying that only companies that make radical changes in the world will have a big impact on the future. It’s still not clear that this is anything other than restating the question.

  38. The kind of “Tech” I’m referring to is Disruption. So what I’m really saying is companies with the ability to disrupt an established market is the future. That’s a Tech Company.

  39. The kind of Tech”” I’m referring to is Disruption. So what I’m really saying is companies with the ability to disrupt an established market is the future. That’s a Tech Company.”””

  40. So, the definition of a “Tech Company” that I’m using is actually in regards to the model that Silicon Valley produces. There’s 2 main requirements for a company to be “Tech”: 1. The innovation it produces must be data driven. 2. The company must demonstrate the ability to disrupt a market using that data driven innovation. The 2nd requirement is probably more poignant as it is the true test of a tech company and I say they’re the future because disruption is the only way we can remake the market without artificial manipulation.

  41. So the definition of a Tech Company”” that I’m using is actually in regards to the model that Silicon Valley produces. There’s 2 main requirements for a company to be “”””Tech””””:1. The innovation it produces must be data driven.2. The company must demonstrate the ability to disrupt a market using that data driven innovation.The 2nd requirement is probably more poignant as it is the true test of a tech company and I say they’re the future because disruption is the only way we can remake the market without artificial manipulation.”””

  42. Didn’t we kill off SDC triumphalism the first time that an “impossible, it will never, ever happen” fatal SDC car crash occurred?

  43. Didn’t we kill off SDC triumphalism the first time that an impossible it will never” ever happen”” fatal SDC car crash occurred?”””

  44. That’s true by definition. If an industry isn’t innovating, then it isn’t changing, growing and developing to lead the future. If it IS innovating, then by definition it is new technology. All you’ve said is that only industries that change and develop will be different than they are now.

  45. That’s true by definition. If an industry isn’t innovating then it isn’t changing growing and developing to lead the future.If it IS innovating then by definition it is new technology.All you’ve said is that only industries that change and develop will be different than they are now.

  46. Is a rocket motor or space ship tech? Or is it old school refined. Refined will continue to be the motor of economies. Tech is currently over valued because it is the flavor of the day. But tech is nothing more than a road to an end. It is nothing in and of itself. A robot that is self controlled, self motivated and self powering is both the future and the end.

  47. Is a rocket motor or space ship tech? Or is it old school refined. Refined will continue to be the motor of economies. Tech is currently over valued because it is the flavor of the day. But tech is nothing more than a road to an end. It is nothing in and of itself. A robot that is self controlled self motivated and self powering is both the future and the end.

  48. Agree. The fact many places can’t get their act together shouldn’t (and won’t) stop the progress elsewhere. My point is more against SDC triumphalism, talking about a golden future when nobody will drive ever again and people could live in modular mobile homes over the road, etc. common among futurist sites nowadays.

  49. Agree. The fact many places can’t get their act together shouldn’t (and won’t) stop the progress elsewhere.My point is more against SDC triumphalism talking about a golden future when nobody will drive ever again and people could live in modular mobile homes over the road etc. common among futurist sites nowadays.

  50. At the end of the day, when you talk about oil fracking, you’re still really talking about the Energy market. So, not just oil, but all of energy. Solar, etc.

  51. Well… actually, I take that back. Its innovation must be data driven. Fracking is certainly innovation, but I’m talking about the kind of innovation that shifts the entire paradigm of the market. Like solar to replace oil and coal, not just progressive innovation within an established industry.

  52. But that’s just saying that only companies that make radical changes in the world will have a big impact on the future. It’s still not clear that this is anything other than restating the question.

  53. The kind of “Tech” I’m referring to is Disruption. So what I’m really saying is companies with the ability to disrupt an established market is the future. That’s a Tech Company.

  54. So, the definition of a “Tech Company” that I’m using is actually in regards to the model that Silicon Valley produces. There’s 2 main requirements for a company to be “Tech”:

    1. The innovation it produces must be data driven.

    2. The company must demonstrate the ability to disrupt a market using that data driven innovation.

    The 2nd requirement is probably more poignant as it is the true test of a tech company and I say they’re the future because disruption is the only way we can remake the market without artificial manipulation.

  55. That’s true by definition. If an industry isn’t innovating, then it isn’t changing, growing and developing to lead the future.
    If it IS innovating, then by definition it is new technology.

    All you’ve said is that only industries that change and develop will be different than they are now.

  56. Is a rocket motor or space ship tech? Or is it old school refined. Refined will continue to be the motor of economies. Tech is currently over valued because it is the flavor of the day. But tech is nothing more than a road to an end. It is nothing in and of itself. A robot that is self controlled, self motivated and self powering is both the future and the end.

  57. I would expect the first application for self driving would be regular freight trips for companies like UPS, from hub parking lot, to hub, or center parking lot, and back. Now, drivers meet, swap trucks, and drive home on long trips, or swap trailers for short ones. The trucks need no refueling at truck stops, backup trucks are available, and there are mechanics available every operating day. Considering what a teamster earns, with benefits, the savings would be astronomical. Of course, you’d have to beat the union into submission.

  58. I would expect the first application for self driving would be regular freight trips for companies like UPS from hub parking lot to hub or center parking lot and back. Now drivers meet swap trucks and drive home on long trips or swap trailers for short ones. The trucks need no refueling at truck stops backup trucks are available and there are mechanics available every operating day. Considering what a teamster earns with benefits the savings would be astronomical. Of course you’d have to beat the union into submission.

  59. Agree. The fact many places can’t get their act together shouldn’t (and won’t) stop the progress elsewhere.

    My point is more against SDC triumphalism, talking about a golden future when nobody will drive ever again and people could live in modular mobile homes over the road, etc. common among futurist sites nowadays.

  60. But you don’t need to be able to substitute for car drivers world wide. There are lots of, probably most, vehicles that are intended for a particular type of market and that’s where they are sold. You don’t say that Ferraris aren’t a viable car just because you can’t drive one across Africa.

  61. But you don’t need to be able to substitute for car drivers world wide. There are lots of probably most vehicles that are intended for a particular type of market and that’s where they are sold.You don’t say that Ferraris aren’t a viable car just because you can’t drive one across Africa.

  62. My point, really. This technology needs to be proven across all the automobile usage cases and contexts across the globe, for really be considered a viable substitute for car drivers worldwide. In those cases, the car AI could supplement a human driver acting as caretaker of the automated car, not replace it.

  63. My point really.This technology needs to be proven across all the automobile usage cases and contexts across the globe for really be considered a viable substitute for car drivers worldwide.In those cases the car AI could supplement a human driver acting as caretaker of the automated car not replace it.

  64. Now take it to Kenya, India or Mexico and see how well it fares. If it works there, then I’ll be impressed.

  65. Now take it to Kenya India or Mexico and see how well it fares.If it works there then I’ll be impressed.

  66. I would expect the first application for self driving would be regular freight trips for companies like UPS, from hub parking lot, to hub, or center parking lot, and back. Now, drivers meet, swap trucks, and drive home on long trips, or swap trailers for short ones. The trucks need no refueling at truck stops, backup trucks are available, and there are mechanics available every operating day. Considering what a teamster earns, with benefits, the savings would be astronomical. Of course, you’d have to beat the union into submission.

  67. But you don’t need to be able to substitute for car drivers world wide. There are lots of, probably most, vehicles that are intended for a particular type of market and that’s where they are sold.
    You don’t say that Ferraris aren’t a viable car just because you can’t drive one across Africa.

  68. My point, really.

    This technology needs to be proven across all the automobile usage cases and contexts across the globe, for really be considered a viable substitute for car drivers worldwide.

    In those cases, the car AI could supplement a human driver acting as caretaker of the automated car, not replace it.

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