Posted by Waymo to Train Driverless Vehicles in Detroit’s Snowy Winter
Even robots need to learn how to drive in the snow. And Detroit’s wintry conditions seem to provide the perfect environment to test out their skills.
Waymo has announced a pilot program to try their fully autonomous vehicles in the streets of the city known for its historic role in the automotive industry – formerly hub to the “Big Three” General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in its heyday.
It’s a long time in coming. Waymo says they’ve been training their autonomous cars in the snowy winter conditions of Detroit’s roadways, and have had an engineering presence in the Detroit suburbs dating back to 2016.
The company’s goal is to have the self-driving service up and running in the Motor City by next year, and have been pushing full steam ahead to reach that goal. Waymo’s blog states the company has regularly tested in Detroit during winter weather to develop its capabilities in snow and ice.
The company claims the training of their driverless vehicles is going well. “We’ve made great strides in our efforts to operate in heavier snow – including testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – and look forward to the sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
The soon-to-be-released upgrade designed to enable Waymo cars to handle snow and ice will soon be put to the test. Detroit will serve as Waymo’s first foray into navigating the winter conditions of Midwestern cities. The company currently operates fleets in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas, where icy road conditions haven’t been a typical challenge.
One industry applauding Waymo’s progress is the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. The organization’s president, Andrea Schotthoefer, says “For many people living with epilepsy, transportation is a significant barrier.” She expressed how the clients they serve are looking forward to having safe and accessible transportation solutions come to their area.
Michigan’s inclement winters should no doubt provide a worthy backdrop for testing the vehicles’ ability in snowy conditions. But do the Waymo cars know how to stop and put on chains? Read the full story here.