Waymo Engineering Car
Overview
The Waymo Engineering Car is a self-driving car developed by Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. The car is based on the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, and is equipped with a variety of sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar, to enable it to navigate the world around it. The car is also equipped with a computer system that runs Waymo’s self-driving software, which allows it to make decisions about when to accelerate, brake, and turn.
History
The Waymo Engineering Car was first unveiled in 2014, and has since been tested in a variety of locations, including California, Arizona, and Michigan. In 2017, Waymo began offering a public ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona, using the Engineering Car. The service was expanded to other cities in 2018, and Waymo is currently planning to launch a commercial self-driving car service in 2020.
Technology
The Waymo Engineering Car is equipped with a variety of sensors, including:
- Cameras: The car is equipped with eight cameras that provide a 360-degree view of the world around it. The cameras are used to detect objects, such as other cars, pedestrians, and traffic signals.
- Radar: The car is equipped with five radar sensors that help it to detect objects in its path. The radar sensors are used to measure the distance and speed of objects, and to track their movements.
- Lidar: The car is equipped with one lidar sensor that helps it to create a 3D map of the world around it. The lidar sensor is used to measure the distance to objects, and to create a map of the road ahead.
The car’s computer system runs Waymo’s self-driving software, which allows it to make decisions about when to accelerate, brake, and turn. The software is constantly being updated with new data, and is learning how to drive better over time.
Safety
The Waymo Engineering Car is designed to be safe and reliable. The car is equipped with a variety of safety features, including:
- Airbags: The car is equipped with airbags that will deploy in the event of a crash.
- Anti-lock brakes: The car is equipped with anti-lock brakes that help to prevent the wheels from locking up during braking.
- Electronic stability control: The car is equipped with electronic stability control that helps to prevent the car from skidding.
The car is also equipped with a variety of redundant systems that help to ensure that the car will continue to operate even if one of the systems fails.
Future
Waymo is planning to launch a commercial self-driving car service in 2020. The service will be available in a number of cities, and will allow people to hail a self-driving car using a smartphone app. Waymo is also working on developing new self-driving technologies, such as a system that will allow cars to drive in all weather conditions.
Conclusion
The Waymo Engineering Car is a significant milestone in the development of self-driving cars. The car is safe, reliable, and capable of driving in a variety of conditions. Waymo is planning to launch a commercial self-driving car service in 2020, which will make self-driving cars a reality for the general public.
