Waymo’s autonomous cars are now rolling on the streets of Orlando. The white Jaguars are equipped with 29 cameras to see everything around them. Spokesperson Mark Lewis explained all the different gadgets you see on the cars, “these flat panels are radars that understand proximity and velocity, and the spinning things are called Lidars, that use lasers as they rotate to understand the world around them.” Lewis said thanks to that technology, the cars can read signs, parking signs, and find a place to legally park when it’s not offering rides. Inside, there are also cameras watching to make sure everything is okay, but Lewis said the microphones are off unless you have a problem and contact support. “Privacy is number one for us. So we don’t share the video of both externally and internally,” Lewis said. What about safety? There have been reports in other states of Waymo cars going around school buses with their arms out. “We’re always learning, and we’re always trying to perfect what the Weymouth driver is. We do successfully work around and recognize stop signs on school buses and lights on school buses. So we are making sure that for the unique instances that are happening in those situations, that we understand what that dynamic is,” said Lewis.For now, the cars are operating in a 60-mile radius from Orlando to Vineland, but you won’t see them on freeways for now. “Will be seeing freeway access, hopefully with the airport’s permission, airport access,” Lewis said. As for our theme parks, there is already a designated spot for SeaWorld, and Lewis said they are working on ones for Universal and Disney properties. For now, you can’t just book a Waymo. You need to download the app, get on the waitlist, and they are slowly releasing invitations as they build the fleet. Waymo said on average the fee is about 15-percent higher than other ride-sharing apps.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Waymo’s autonomous cars are now rolling on the streets of Orlando. The white Jaguars are equipped with 29 cameras to see everything around them.
Spokesperson Mark Lewis explained all the different gadgets you see on the cars, “these flat panels are radars that understand proximity and velocity, and the spinning things are called Lidars, that use lasers as they rotate to understand the world around them.”
Lewis said thanks to that technology, the cars can read signs, parking signs, and find a place to legally park when it’s not offering rides. Inside, there are also cameras watching to make sure everything is okay, but Lewis said the microphones are off unless you have a problem and contact support.
“Privacy is number one for us. So we don’t share the video of both externally and internally,” Lewis said.
What about safety? There have been reports in other states of Waymo cars going around school buses with their arms out.
“We’re always learning, and we’re always trying to perfect what the Weymouth driver is. We do successfully work around and recognize stop signs on school buses and lights on school buses. So we are making sure that for the unique instances that are happening in those situations, that we understand what that dynamic is,” said Lewis.
For now, the cars are operating in a 60-mile radius from Orlando to Vineland, but you won’t see them on freeways for now.
“Will be seeing freeway access, hopefully with the airport’s permission, airport access,” Lewis said.
As for our theme parks, there is already a designated spot for SeaWorld, and Lewis said they are working on ones for Universal and Disney properties. For now, you can’t just book a Waymo. You need to download the app, get on the waitlist, and they are slowly releasing invitations as they build the fleet.
Waymo said on average the fee is about 15-percent higher than other ride-sharing apps.