The sixth generation of the Waymo Driver is in the starting blocks and promises a revolution in autonomous driving. With thousands of miles of experience on real roads and millions in simulations, the system learns faster and more efficiently than ever before.
Waymo has made significant progress in the development and operation of fully autonomous technology at scale. The company has now manufactured six generations of hardware and integrated them into thousands of vehicles. In order to safely and efficiently introduce the latest generation of Waymo Driver into the existing fleet, the new hardware is subjected to a strict testing program. This includes structured tests, driving under real conditions and extensive Simulations.
The sixth generation of the Sensor suite Waymo has already accumulated thousands of miles of real-world driving experience and additional millions of miles in simulations. A key advantage of the Waymo Driver system is its ability to learn from the collective experience of the entire fleet, including data from previous generations of hardware. This common knowledge base significantly reduces the number of miles needed to train and validate the basic models. This will ensure the development of each new generation Waymo Driver accelerated and improved.
Safety is a top priority at Waymo. The system’s performance in simulations shows promising signs that it can begin operating without a human driver in about half the time required for previous generations. Many observers have already seen the sixth generation of Waymo’s hardware suite on public roads seen as part of the testing process. As preparations continue to deploy the latest driver to carry passengers, those interested can follow developments via Waymo’s social media. Updates are shared there regularly throughout the development process.
For those who want to experience the future of autonomous driving today, Waymo Driver is already accessible via the Waymo One app. With just a few taps on their smartphone, users can book a ride in an autonomous vehicle and experience the technology first hand.
These advances underscore Waymo’s continued commitment to advancing and improving autonomous driving technology to make it safer, more efficient and more accessible to the broader public.