Sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, developed in partnership with Geely’s Zeekr, will be revealed by Waymo a year after the company debuted its fifth-generation robotaxis, which was built on the Jaguar I-Pace.
Although Waymo and Cruise are among the robotaxi businesses that have started providing paid autonomous trips in many US locations, Tesla has been making long-term promises about its self-driving capabilities.
Despite Tesla’s ambitious goal of achieving full self-driving autonomy, there’s a significant distinction between its approach and that of robotaxi companies. While Tesla aims for general-purpose autonomous driving, regardless of location or conditions, robotaxi companies have focused on specific service areas.
Waymo’s robotaxis are limited to designated geofenced areas, unlike Tesla’s FSD, which operates everywhere, albeit with limitations. In terms of autonomy levels, Tesla strives for Level 5 autonomy, while Waymo has already reached Level 4. This distinction also extends to liability.
Tesla places responsibility on the driver, even if the software malfunctions, whereas Waymo assumes full responsibility for its driverless robotaxis. Waymo, a leading player in the autonomous vehicle industry, has made significant strides in expanding its operations and competing with traditional transportation services.
Despite facing controversies like other robotaxi companies, Waymo has managed to establish a presence in major cities like San Francisco, with its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis becoming a familiar sight. However, the company’s ambitious plans extend beyond its current fleet.
In partnership with Geely’s Zeekr, Waymo is developing a next-generation driverless pod that promises to revolutionize the autonomous driving world. Equipped with advanced sensors and software, this new vehicle is designed to offer superior performance and enhanced safety.
One of the key innovations in this pod is its reduced sensor count. Unlike previous models, which relied on 29 cameras and five lidar sensors, the new vehicle operates with only 13 cameras and four lidar sensors. Despite this reduction, Waymo claims that the overlapping fields of view from these sensors enable the vehicle to “see” up to 500 meters in any weather condition, day or night.
In addition to cameras and lidars, the sixth-generation sensor suite includes six radar sensors and an array of external audio receivers (EARs). This combination of sensors provides a comprehensive 360-degree perception of the world, ensuring redundancy and reliability in all conditions.
As a result, the new vehicles are expected to perform better in challenging environments like winter weather and maintain a clear view of their surroundings even when driving on dusty or dirty roads. Beyond the hardware advancements, Waymo’s software plays a crucial role in enabling autonomous driving.
The company’s sixth-generation vehicles have undergone extensive testing, both in real-world scenarios and through millions of simulated miles. This rigorous testing process ensures that the vehicles are equipped to handle a wide range of driving conditions and make safe and reliable decisions on the road.
While the exact timeline for the commercial deployment of Waymo’s next-generation driverless pods remains unclear, the company’s progress in developing this technology is promising. If successful, these vehicles could significantly transform the transportation industry and offer a more efficient, sustainable, and convenient mode of travel.
