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0 pointsrobotnikman1y ago0 comments

They are here in the Phoenix area too and I have not seen and issues with them. However, we are blessed by sunny weather 99% of the time. I think the biggest challenges will be having them drive in adverse weather conditions present throughout the rest of the country, such as blizzards, hail, torrential rain, dense fog.

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8note1y ago

I don't think blizzards, hail, torrential rain, and dense fog will be particularly challenging for waymos, at least not keeping the card driving in a controlled a predictable state.

The hard thing is that every other human car acts randomly because they don't say, have winter tires, and unlike waymo, don't have the very quick control loop.

cut31y ago

Oh they have issues. Waymos are super janky when they are in parking lots, often just sitting in the middle of the driving lane waiting for their fare. I dont think they know how to park in a lot correctly.

It is also funny to watch them get stuck behind busses, having followed too close to safely go around them when the bus stops to pickup/dropoff.

Also Ive seen multiple instances of them trying to turn left on red and pull far enough into an intersection to cause issues.

Finally when I am on my skateboard they dont seem to recognize me as they drive very very close and fast, though I havent felt risky enough to really test this.

Karrot_Kream1y ago

Interesting, as a cyclist Waymos have always been very aware of me and usually slow down for me if I've taken the lane, and stop for me if it's starting to move after picking up someone but sees me pass. I wonder if their training set doesn't have enough skateboarders.

arebop1y ago

We have abundant fog and seasonal rain in SF, but not much hail or snow.

That's why they've done winter testing in Tahoe (since 2017) and Buffalo NY (last winter).

jeffbee1y ago

Waymo is likely already better than a upper-quartile meat module under those conditions. https://x.com/Boenau/status/1795495310170685915

seanmcdirmid1y ago

You know, that’s a challenge for human drivers as well. Try getting an Uber during those weather events, their might be one or two running crazily to get super surge pricing when there are usually a few hundred.

hnburnsy1y ago

Not just sunny weather, but straight streets laid out in a N/S and E/W pattern, very little grade, and consistent numbering\naming across cities.

chpatrick1y ago

I used one when it was somehow raining in Phoenix and it worked fine apart from being a bit confused by a puddle when stopping.

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