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Ad hominems aside, it's easy to cheerlead Waymo since they stand alone as the nation's only commercial robotaxi service. They're expanding, their track record i

Ad hominems aside, it's easy to cheerlead Waymo since they stand alone as the nation's only commercial robotaxi service. They're expanding, their track record is exceptional, and having used them a handful of times they definitely leave an impression.

schiffern 2y ago
Waymo's strategy traded "do robotaxi early" in exchange for big penalties in cost-per-car (LIDAR) and cost-per-city (requirement for millimeter mapping). Yes it gets them early service in a small number of cities, but it dramatically kneecaps their ability to scale to the entire planet.
- reaperducer 2y ago
  it dramatically kneecaps their ability to scale to the entire planet. Why do they need to scale to the entire planet?
  - jfengel 2y ago
    If they don't someone else will. And then they'll risk being pushed out even of the cities that they pioneered. They might have a plan to nail that specific niche, and there's plenty of money in that. But I am certain they have their eyes on the largest possible scale.
- jfoster 2y ago
  Completely agree, but I'm very glad they exist. It's always good to have multiple companies offering a service, and they've opened the regulatory door for Tesla to eventually launch driverless robotaxis that operate in more cities.
- gamblor956 2y ago
  If by "kneecap" you mean it lets them scale appropriately as their systems and processes are able to handle the increased scope, then yes. Because the alternative is self-driving cars inexplicably speeding into stationary objects, killing everyone inside. 5 people have died from that in just the past month.
  - slaw 2y ago
    5 people died in self-driving cars in the past month and I didn't hear about it? Could you provide source?
- standardUser 2y ago
  No doubt the one-time costs are staggering, but I've read the cost per car is only around $100k. That's a lot more than the $20-$50k for a new Uber or taxi, but the potential savings in labor are massive and create the potential to severely undercut the (manual) competition.

schiffern 2y ago

Waymo's strategy traded "do robotaxi early" in exchange for big penalties in cost-per-car (LIDAR) and cost-per-city (requirement for millimeter mapping). Yes it gets them early service in a small number of cities, but it dramatically kneecaps their ability to scale to the entire planet.

reaperducer 2y ago
it dramatically kneecaps their ability to scale to the entire planet. Why do they need to scale to the entire planet?
- jfengel 2y ago
  If they don't someone else will. And then they'll risk being pushed out even of the cities that they pioneered. They might have a plan to nail that specific niche, and there's plenty of money in that. But I am certain they have their eyes on the largest possible scale.
jfoster 2y ago
Completely agree, but I'm very glad they exist. It's always good to have multiple companies offering a service, and they've opened the regulatory door for Tesla to eventually launch driverless robotaxis that operate in more cities.
gamblor956 2y ago
If by "kneecap" you mean it lets them scale appropriately as their systems and processes are able to handle the increased scope, then yes. Because the alternative is self-driving cars inexplicably speeding into stationary objects, killing everyone inside. 5 people have died from that in just the past month.
- slaw 2y ago
  5 people died in self-driving cars in the past month and I didn't hear about it? Could you provide source?
standardUser 2y ago
No doubt the one-time costs are staggering, but I've read the cost per car is only around $100k. That's a lot more than the $20-$50k for a new Uber or taxi, but the potential savings in labor are massive and create the potential to severely undercut the (manual) competition.