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They can handle heavy rain, see time 6:00: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1A3aaQnh0 https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1A3aaQnh0 From their August 2023 blog post: >

They can handle heavy rain, see time 6:00: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1A3aaQnh0 https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1A3aaQnh0 From their August 2023 blog post: > During this past winter season in California with its record rain, high winds, and thunderstorms, we were able to maintain 99.4% fleet uptime

david-gpu 2y ago
Thank you, that was fascinating.
1024core 2y ago
How does it make out lane markings? Or is it all just GPS-based?
- AlotOfReading 2y ago
  Localization is primarily based on visual registration, i.e. matching the current surroundings to the closest data in its map. Lane markings are based on map data and what it's able to see in real-time.
- RivieraKid 2y ago
  Maybe similarly how humans do it.
  - mikepurvis 2y ago
    Humans do it super badly in a heavy rain/snow though. We're basically blind and just toodle along following the guy in front and hoping for the best. A machine driver should not accept these conditions.
    - drewgross 2y ago
      On the contrary, sticking strictly to the lane markers when everyone else is blindly straddling lanes seems the worst of all worlds.
      - mikepurvis 2y ago
        Right, but I’m arguing that the correct behaviour for everyone is to pull over and wait for conditions to improve — robots and humans alike.
rstuart4133 2y ago
Where I come from that might be called a "shower". Heavy rain here is like fog. It's so thick you can only see a few meters, and the windscreen wipers can only give you a brief glimpse of what's ahead. It happens rarely. When it does, more cautious drivers give up and pull over, even if they are on the freeway. That makes travelling at high speed down on freeway at high speed in those conditions near suicidal. It only lasts a few minutes. I expect Waymo would handle like any human. Stop, or just creep forward.
- ethbr1 2y ago
  Example of moderate Miami tropical rain: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/HAvKGwtQ2Uo https://m.youtube.com/shorts/HAvKGwtQ2Uo

david-gpu 2y ago

Thank you, that was fascinating.

1024core 2y ago

How does it make out lane markings? Or is it all just GPS-based?

AlotOfReading 2y ago
Localization is primarily based on visual registration, i.e. matching the current surroundings to the closest data in its map. Lane markings are based on map data and what it's able to see in real-time.
RivieraKid 2y ago
Maybe similarly how humans do it.
- mikepurvis 2y ago
  Humans do it super badly in a heavy rain/snow though. We're basically blind and just toodle along following the guy in front and hoping for the best. A machine driver should not accept these conditions.
  - drewgross 2y ago
    On the contrary, sticking strictly to the lane markers when everyone else is blindly straddling lanes seems the worst of all worlds.
    - mikepurvis 2y ago
      Right, but I’m arguing that the correct behaviour for everyone is to pull over and wait for conditions to improve — robots and humans alike.

rstuart4133 2y ago

Where I come from that might be called a "shower". Heavy rain here is like fog. It's so thick you can only see a few meters, and the windscreen wipers can only give you a brief glimpse of what's ahead. It happens rarely. When it does, more cautious drivers give up and pull over, even if they are on the freeway. That makes travelling at high speed down on freeway at high speed in those conditions near suicidal. It only lasts a few minutes. I expect Waymo would handle like any human. Stop, or just creep forward.

ethbr1 2y ago
Example of moderate Miami tropical rain: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/HAvKGwtQ2Uo https://m.youtube.com/shorts/HAvKGwtQ2Uo