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"For" is a pretty clear winner at this point. Waymo is already at level 4 at least on surface streets, and they claim 99.4% uptime in rain, high winds, and thu
by spankalee 3y ago
"For" is a pretty clear winner at this point.
Waymo is already at level 4 at least on surface streets, and they claim 99.4% uptime in rain, high winds, and thunderstorms during last winter. [1] They're testing highway service in Phoenix now.
There might be a debate about the word "all" for the distinction between levels 4 and 5, but Waymo has six years to erase that doubt.
[1]: https://waymo.com/blog/2023/08/the-waymo-drivers-rapid-learning-curve/#:~:text=Some%20of%20our%20key%20areas,a%20range%20of%20weather%20conditions https://waymo.com/blog/2023/08/the-waymo-drivers-rapid-learn....
- onlyrealcuzzo 3y agoWaymo is not going to be working everywhere in the US in all conditions by 2030 (and it doesn't need to, either). AFAIK, that's what L5 means.
- spankalee 3y agoThe bet is to be available is one of the top 10 US cities.
- huytersd 3y agoIt will be in major cities and that’s what the bet is.
- oatmeal1 3y agoThe bet requires the cars to be SAE level 5 autonomous. You wouldn't notice the difference as a passenger between level 4 used in appropriate conditions, and level 5 car. But the bet does require the car to be level 5 nonetheless.
- snowwrestler 3y agoIs anyone at Level 5, though? At all? In even a prototype?
- huytersd 3y agoWhat is level 5? Just widespread level 4? Because Waymo is definitely at level 4.
- TheCoelacanth 3y agoThey're level 3. There are remote operators that the car can pull in if it needs help.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- otalp 3y agoThere's a big leap to go from geofenced Phoenix to NYC
- rhuru 3y agoIt does not have to go to NYC at all. If Waymo can show profitability is some city it is good enough. If it gets love in one city is is good enough for the rest of the world to put a red carpet before them.
- huytersd 3y agoIt has literally been in San Fran for over a year where some parts are arguably harder than NYC.
- Grazester 3y agoI don't think NYC itself(terrain) is bad. It's dead simple. It's the driver and everyone else allowed anywhere near the street that is the problem.
- huytersd 3y agoThat happens in San Fran too. Random parking on the street for deliveries, bicycles, construction, pedestrians milling about on the road etc.
- spankalee 3y agoThe bet doesn't seem to require service in NYC. It says: By "major cities" we mean any of the top 10 most populous cities in the United States of America.
- oatmeal1 3y agoDisagree. Waymo is currently at level 3. From your link, emergency responders have the ability to put the car in a manual mode to get it out of the way if it is stuck. Waymo also has employees make decisions on behalf of the car remotely when it finds itself in a tricky situation. Level 5 fully autonomous would mean the car is able to drive in icy and snowy conditions (adjusting how it drives based on traction), it would be able to respond to verbal commands from construction workers, and it would be able to detect when a hazard in the road prevents it from continuing, plan a new route, and detour. There isn't much incentive for Waymo or its competitors to create level 5 autonomous cars when there is a plenty large market in places where there is good weather and good signal for an employee to tell the car what to do if necessary.
- spankalee 3y agoWaymo cars don't have a driver, and they don't let a passenger take over driving. That's level 4: https://www.sae.org/binaries/content/assets/cm/content/blog/sae-j3016-visual-chart_5.3.21.pdf https://www.sae.org/binaries/content/assets/cm/content/blog/...
- oatmeal1 3y agoPerhaps it straddles the line between 3 and 4. I don't see much of a distinction between the passenger taking over, and a first responder taking over. Would Waymo put cars on the road that don't have pedals and a steering wheel if it were cheaper to do so? I don't think they would. I think they want a backup in case the car has to be driven by a human.
- tialaramex 3y agoNo, it's very clearly level 4. Here's how you can tell so that you don't get confused as easily in future. Level 3 cars can require the occupant to drive the vehicle, "When the feature requests: You must drive the car". Waymo even offers service to people who cannot drive whether that's legally (they aren't licensed) or physically (blind people can use Waymo but can't drive a car). They are simply not required to take over driving.