Waymo, a leader in autonomous driving technology, has announced the readiness of its sixth-generation autonomous driving system for passenger trips. This advanced system marks a significant milestone for the company after extensive testing and validation. Initially, the technology will be deployed for employees and their acquaintances in San Francisco and Los Angeles, followed by public availability.
The previous fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, operating on Waymo’s fifth-generation technology, will be succeeded by the new system. Waymo’s latest innovation is engineered to seamlessly integrate with various vehicle models, starting with the Zeekr RT minivan, rebranded as Ojai, and later the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Collaborations with other automakers like Toyota are also in progress for future vehicle integration.
Waymo’s sixth-generation system features enhanced intelligence and capability, achieved with fewer sensors to optimize production costs. The system includes upgraded cameras for improved vision, lidar for comprehensive environment scanning, and radar for superior performance in challenging weather conditions. Notably, the technology is designed for high-volume production, enabling manufacturing partners to produce tens of thousands of units annually. With successful autonomous vehicle operations in multiple markets, Waymo aims for rapid expansion, targeting 20 new cities in 2026.
Source: The Verge