Alex Iljin’s Post

Saw this Waymo self-driving car cruising around San Francisco today! 🚗💨 Over the years, I’ve seen these cars with drivers behind the wheel, but today, I was amazed to see it without any human driver behind the seats! How exciting to witness the advancements in autonomous driving technology. San Francisco continues to be a hub for innovation and futuristic tech. It’s amazing to see these developments firsthand. Waymo began fully operating its driverless cars on the streets of San Francisco in late 2022. They received their driverless deployment permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), allowing them to offer commercial ride-hailing services without a driver behind the wheel. Since then, Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles have been providing rides to thousands of residents across San Francisco and have expanded to other areas like Daly City, Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. They operate 24/7, offering a seamless and safe travel experience. #Waymo #SelfDrivingCars #AutonomousVehicles #SanFrancisco #Innovation #FutureTech #SmartCity #Technology #Transportation #UrbanMobility #AI #MachineLearning #AutonomousDriving

My palms were slicker than a pool cue in Arizona heat as I walked out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in late May, and that wasn’t because of the desert sun. I was about to climb into the back of a Waymo self-driving car and relinquish all control to the bots. Last week I spent two days riding Waymo around Phoenix to report for Matador Network on a technology that is commonplace there and a novelty nearly everywhere else. What stuck out the most to me was how quickly I became comfortable with riding in a driverless car. By the third ride the novelty had nearly worn off. I brought a GoPro with me to film my facial expressions during the first few rides, figuring there’d be some moments of shock and awe, but the footage was so boring that none of it made it to publication. Perhaps I’m overly trusting of technology, or maybe, turning the driving over to machines is such a natural progression that it simply isn’t that big of a deal once you’ve experienced it. There’s certainly irony in the fact that much of the innovation promising to relieve us from clogged streets is taking place in a city known for low-rise sprawl in a country known for its affection for packing just one person into an air-conditioned SUV. The ability of Waymo cars and other autonomous vehicles to communicate and coordinate with each other may actually help to optimize traffic flow, reducing congestion by maintaining consistent speeds and utilizing road space more efficiently. This can also eliminates human error, a major cause of accidents, by having superior awareness and faster reaction times than human drivers. Aside from the reporting, my opinion after this story is that Waymo and others like it will be ubiquitous in major cities worldwide within five years. Check out the story: https://lnkd.in/gTbzgRmb #waymo #autonomouscars #phoenix

Why Waymo's 50000 Autonomous Ride-Hailing Trips A Week Is A Big Deal - Seeking Alpha: Why Waymo's 50000 Autonomous Ride-Hailing Trips A Week Is A Big Deal  Seeking Alpha #car #cars #awesome

With the continuous advancement of technology in the automotive industry, the prevalence of autonomous cars on our roads is expected to increase. Waymo, a leading company in this field, is actively working towards creating a fleet of "robotaxis" in Los Angeles. Waymo has conducted extensive testing in over thirteen states across the U.S., utilizing data gathered from the car's sensors to navigate various elements such as pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and construction without the need for human intervention. Autonomous cars rely on sensors, including lidar, radar, and cameras, to perceive their surroundings. Through a combination of these sensors, they gain a comprehensive view of the environment. The collected data is then transmitted to the car's computer, enabling it to respond to various scenarios on the road autonomously. Waymo's current fleet consists of fully electric Jaguar I-PACEs. Many other companies have received approval for level 3 automated driving systems, indicating significant progress in the field. Despite this, the full extent of autonomous car capabilities is yet to be realized, and technological advancements are expected to drive the transition towards more automated driving systems. As we witness an increasing number of autonomous cars on the road, it prompts consideration of necessary changes to vehicle standards for the future. What modifications and adaptations will be essential to accommodate the evolving landscape of automated driving technology? Mossalgue, J. (n.d.). Waymo looks to launch full fleet of robotaxis in Los Angeles. Electrek. https://lnkd.in/gCJjByjb Ride-Hailing App - Make the most of your drive - Waymo One. (n.d.). Waymo. https://lnkd.in/gUBpmz5f

Waymo, the first company to operate a public robotaxi service, is preparing for another big step: carrying passengers on highways in autonomous vehicles, not just on lower-speed city and suburban streets. Starting this month, the Alphabet Inc. unit plans to begin running its electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs on stretches of freeway around Phoenix. They’ll operate in full autonomous mode, initially carrying only Waymo employees. The company, which has been developing robotic driving technology since 2009, isn’t saying how quickly it’ll expand the service to fare-paying customers, but it intends to be the first company to do so. While highways are simpler to navigate than city streets, lacking complicated intersections, turns and, usually, pedestrians and bicyclists, there are other risks related to high speeds or unexpected objects in lanes. Waymo is comfortable putting its vehicles there after years of testing robotic heavy-duty trucks, Boris Sofman, senior director of engineering, told Forbes.

Waymo, the first company to operate a public robotaxi service, is preparing for another big step: carrying passengers on highways in autonomous vehicles, not just on lower-speed city and suburban streets. Starting this month, the Alphabet Inc. unit plans to begin running its electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs on stretches of freeway around Phoenix. They’ll operate in full autonomous mode, initially carrying only Waymo employees. The company, which has been developing robotic driving technology since 2009, isn’t saying how quickly it’ll expand the service to fare-paying customers, but it intends to be the first company to do so. While highways are simpler to navigate than city streets, lacking complicated intersections, turns and, usually, pedestrians and bicyclists, there are other risks related to high speeds or unexpected objects in lanes. Waymo is comfortable putting its vehicles there after years of testing robotic heavy-duty trucks, Boris Sofman, senior director of engineering, told Forbes.

Will you be hailing a Waymo robotaxi soon? Starting in early 2025, Uber users in Austin and Atlanta will be able to hail Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles. This expanded partnership builds on a collaboration in Phoenix, where Waymo’s robotaxis have been available via Uber since late 2023. Waymo is already operating its own autonomous ride-hailing service, which operates in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, serving around 100,000 trips per week. While a small group of Waymo users will get early access soon, the fleet will gradually scale to hundreds of vehicles. Uber will manage fleet upkeep, while Waymo focuses on testing, operations, and rider support. As the demand for autonomous mobility grows, this partnership signals a continued push toward the future of self-driving transportation. #Autonomous #Taxi #SelfDriving #RideHailing #Mobility #Austin #Atlanta #Innovation #SmartCities

In his latest article exclusive to Asset Finance Connect, Steve Taplin, Managing Director at Lendscape, shares his personal encounter with a fully autonomous Waymo taxi in San Francisco. As someone from the UK, where #autonomousvehicles are still largely conceptual, Taplin offers a unique perspective on the current state of AI-driven cars and the broader implications of this technology. He reflects on the impressive yet complex capabilities of #AI, as well as the challenges surrounding its widespread adoption. From regulatory hurdles to public trust, Taplin highlights both the promise and the roadblocks that lie ahead for autonomous vehicles. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eD4sw3wY

𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 The article by Vaughn Cockayne was published in The Washington Times on Thursday. It explores the challenges faced by robotaxi companies like Waymo and Zoox in gaining public trust due to safety concerns following several high-profile crashes. 🚓 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA is investigating both Waymo and Zoox due to multiple incidents. The article highlights that over 90% of consumers are concerned about the safety of autonomous vehicles, significantly impacting public perception. 🚓 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 Despite the crashes, Waymo maintains a robust defense of its safety record, reporting a crash rate of 0.41 per one million miles driven and claiming their vehicles are seven times less likely to be involved in an injury-causing crash than human drivers. 🚓 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) acknowledges the need for improved public engagement to build trust. Cities like New York and Washington D.C. are proactively establishing permitting systems and testing programs to manage the integration of robotaxis. “𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘪𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦,” Jeff Farrah, CEO of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association. The development and deployment of robust navigation systems are critical to supporting the vigorous growth of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry. At EYE2DRIVE, we firmly believe that our advanced vision sensors are essential to fully unlocking the potential of autonomous vehicles, ensuring they operate safely and effectively in diverse environments. ______ 👉 Stay tuned! Follow us: EYE2DRIVE #AutonomouVehicles #Driverless #AV #Robotaxi

Navigating New York: Street-Level Autonomous Vehicles Pave the Way for Accessible Transit In the bustling streets of New York City, a groundbreaking innovation is revolutionizing transportation: street-level autonomous vehicles (AVs) inspired by the protective design of subway trains. Imagine sleek vehicles gliding through Manhattan traffic, their sides equipped with protective bumpers reminiscent of subway cars, designed to minimize accidents and ensure passenger safety. These AVs, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and AI technology, navigate the city streets with precision, offering a seamless and efficient alternative to traditional modes of transit. The incorporation of protective bumpers not only enhances safety but also instills confidence in passengers, reassuring them of a secure journey through the urban jungle. This innovative approach to urban mobility is a game-changer for New York City. By harnessing the power of autonomous technology and drawing inspiration from the reliability of subway systems, these AVs promise to redefine the commuter experience. Whether it's navigating through crowded intersections or traversing narrow streets, these vehicles demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that transportation is available to everyone, regardless of their mobility needs. As the city embraces this new era of transit, the streets of New York are poised to become more accessible, efficient, and safer than ever before. With street-level autonomous vehicles leading the way, the future of urban transportation is here, bringing the city closer together one ride at a time.