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FrodosNewPet

(495 posts) Fri Dec 7, 2018, 05:16 PM Dec 2018

Even self-driving leader Waymo is struggling to reach full autonomy

Even self-driving leader Waymo is struggling to reach full autonomy

After 48 hours we haven't seen any sign people are using Waymo's service.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/12/waymos-lame-public-driverless-launch-not-driverless-and-barely-public/

by Timothy B. Lee - Dec 7, 2018 11:55am EST

The Wednesday rollout of Waymo One, Waymo's commercial self-driving taxi service, falls far short of expectations the company itself set earlier in the year.

In late September, a Waymo spokeswoman told Ars by email that the Phoenix service would be fully driverless and open to members of the public—claims I reported in this article.

We now know that Waymo One won't be fully driverless; there will be a driver in the driver's seat. And Waymo One is open to the public in only the narrowest, most technical sense: initially it will only be available to early riders—the same people who have been participating in Waymo's test program for months.

This seems to be the latest sign that Waymo's technology is progressing more slowly than a lot of people expected—including Waymo's own leadership a year ago. People who have observed Waymo's vehicles on public roads in recent months report that the cars still struggle with unprotected left turns, merges, and other tricky situations.

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9 replies

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Highlight:

Even self-driving leader Waymo is struggling to reach full autonomy (Original Post) FrodosNewPet Dec 2018 OP

This is the video referenced in the article - not sure when it was made. Jim__ Dec 2018 #1

It is a necessary and valuable technology FrodosNewPet Dec 2018 #2

It's been hyped beyond technical reality. NutmegYankee Dec 2018 #3

Will never forget being told by a DeminPennswoods Dec 2018 #9

Gives one a new appreciation for how sophisticated DeminPennswoods Dec 2018 #4

And that's comparing to a teen-aged human brain! JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2018 #5

Humans can be correct even when we are "wrong" FrodosNewPet Dec 2018 #6

Tech usually starts off in a primitive state, and continues to improve on itself. Oneironaut Dec 2018 #7

I hope robust, wide spread standards for safety and navigation pop up FrodosNewPet Dec 2018 #8

Jim__

(14,076 posts)

1. This is the video referenced in the article - not sure when it was made.

Reply to FrodosNewPet (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2018, 05:32 PM

Dec 2018

I wouldn't want to be behind a vehicle that was being driven like the one's they show here:

FrodosNewPet

(495 posts)

2. It is a necessary and valuable technology

Reply to Jim__ (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 05:57 AM

Dec 2018

Unfortunately, it is one of the hardest things in the world to teach a computer how to drive.

NutmegYankee

(16,199 posts)

3. It's been hyped beyond technical reality.

Reply to FrodosNewPet (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 07:00 AM

Dec 2018

I’m sure systems can be devised to self drive city streets in normal weather, but winter will always challenge these systems. The other issue is the cost of maintenance and the risk of failure of a key sensor. Airplanes can fly in autopilot, but require pilots always ready to take control when something goes wrong.

I expect that true self driving will be a niche market and most vehicles will move toward helping the human drive safer.

DeminPennswoods

(15,286 posts)

9. Will never forget being told by a

Reply to NutmegYankee (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 04:14 PM

Dec 2018

Navy pilot that when he got close to his target, he turned off all the warning and alert bells he could so he could just concentrate on completing his mission.

DeminPennswoods

(15,286 posts)

4. Gives one a new appreciation for how sophisticated

Reply to FrodosNewPet (Original post)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 07:03 AM

Dec 2018

the human brain is, doesn't it?

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,340 posts)

5. And that's comparing to a teen-aged human brain!

Reply to DeminPennswoods (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 07:46 AM

Dec 2018

I hate getting stuck behind a self-driving car. They are slow, way beyond careful. The default action in most situations is: STOP!

They don't drive 2 mph over the limit, they come to complete stops at stop signs, they yield to all traffic whether real or imagined, they slow for people who don't look like they want to cross the street.

But, I want one, before I'm too old to drive. "Car, take me to bingo!"

FrodosNewPet

(495 posts)

6. Humans can be correct even when we are "wrong"

Reply to DeminPennswoods (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 07:49 AM

Dec 2018

We are analog processors, for whom motion is natural, and have been ever since we were single celled organisms.

As binary systems, computers don't have that luxury.

Oneironaut

(5,495 posts)

7. Tech usually starts off in a primitive state, and continues to improve on itself.

Reply to FrodosNewPet (Original post)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 08:32 AM

Dec 2018

I hope more self-driving car companies pop up, and the idea of self-driving cars is exciting.

FrodosNewPet

(495 posts)

8. I hope robust, wide spread standards for safety and navigation pop up

Reply to Oneironaut (Reply #7)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 08:42 AM

Dec 2018

This technology is challenging and potentially fatal.

It has to be done correctly and patiently.

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