Waymo Introduces Sixth-Generation Autonomous Driving System
Smarter, Cheaper, and More Capable
Waymo has introduced their sixth-generation autonomous driving system, which promises to be smarter, cheaper, and more capable than its predecessors. This should improve safety, while also enabling vehicles to travel in new environments.
Advanced Sensor Suite
Starting with the sensor suite, the sixth-generation Waymo Driver has 13 cameras, six radars, four lidar sensors, and an assortment of external audio receivers. These are optimized for greater performance at a significantly reduced cost, without compromising safety. Waymo said the latest system provides overlapping fields of view all around the vehicle and can detect objects up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) away.
New Sensor Cleaning Capabilities
The sixth-generation Waymo Driver benefits from new sensor cleaning capabilities, enabling vehicles to travel autonomously even in snow. This development allows Waymo to swap out various sensing components to match the specific conditions of each operating environment, such as cold climates.
Real-World Testing
Waymo’s Vice President of Engineering, Satish Jeyachandran, stated that the new system has already undergone thousands of miles of real-world testing, as well as millions more in simulation.