Sharing the Road with Robots w/ Ed Niedermeyer and Waymo
Dec 6, 2023
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Automotive journalist and author Ed Niedermeyer discusses with Waymo how autonomous vehicles can improve cyclist safety in cities like San Francisco. The panel emphasizes the importance of infrastructure and social norms for cyclist safety. Waymo team members explain their role in automating driving tasks and the need for autonomous vehicles to respect human needs. The discussion also includes the evolution of San Francisco as a bike-friendly city and the challenges of sharing the road with different types of road users.
The progress towards making cities more cyclist-friendly can contribute to road sharing with autonomous vehicles and increase safety for micromobility.
Waymo engineers actively engage with cycling and pedestrian groups to gather insights and feedback for integrating autonomous vehicles into cities.
Deep dives
Sharing the Road with Robots
The podcast episode discusses the topic of sharing the road with autonomous vehicles or robots. The panel conversation hosted by Edward Diedemire features two Waymo engineers and a public safety advocate. They address the controversy surrounding autonomous vehicles and the importance of safety. The panel emphasizes that autonomous vehicles like Waymos have a proven track record of being safe on the road, and they are several times safer than human drivers. The discussion also revolves around how to make walking and cycling as safe as possible while allowing people who prefer cars to navigate cities.
The Transition to Autonomy in San Francisco
The podcast episode explores the transition of autonomous vehicles, particularly Waymos, in San Francisco. The host, Edward Diedemire, shares his personal experience of first riding in a Waymo in San Francisco and the subsequent controversy and discussions around autonomous vehicles in the city. The panel guests, including Waymo engineers, discuss how the technology transitioned into a city that had already been working towards becoming more bike-friendly and creating a better environment for cyclists and pedestrians. They highlight the importance of trust-building and community engagement in the process of integrating autonomous vehicles into the existing urban landscape.
The Perception and Planning Technologies of Waymo
The podcast delves into the perception and planning technologies employed by Waymo. The Waymo engineers explain how their perception systems, utilizing various sensors like cameras, LiDAR, and radar, provide a comprehensive understanding of the environment. The data collected from millions of miles of driving, both on-road and in simulations, helps improve the software and ensures its safety. The planners at Waymo focus on optimizing the driving behavior for consistency and predictability. In addition, they mention the development of features specific to cyclists, such as the 'safe exit' feature that helps prevent accidents caused by vehicle doors opening in front of cyclists.
Community Perception and Outreach
The podcast emphasizes the importance of community perception and outreach in integrating autonomous vehicles into cities like San Francisco. The Waymo engineers actively engage with cycling and pedestrian groups to gather insights, concerns, and feedback that help shape their technology. They discuss the varying perceptions of autonomous vehicles, with some individuals being skeptical due to news articles highlighting accidents, while others who have experienced Waymo rides contribute to a more positive perception. The engineers also stress the enforcement of consistency and safety across Waymo's fleet, ensuring that every Waymo vehicle adheres to the same standards of behavior.
With more Americans dying in car crashes than at any point since the 1970s, the data increasingly shows robotaxis make cities safe for micromobility. Edward Niedermeyer talks to @Waymo about how AVs can help eliminate the dangers of human driving, at Micromobility America 2024.
Highlights
π The panel discusses the progress and ongoing evolution of road sharing in San Francisco, noting the city's move towards being more cyclist-friendly.
π₯ The guests all share their individual experiences as cyclists around San Francisco, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and social norms for cyclist safety.
π Each panelist emphasizes the variability of driving conditions between different cities, such as the contrast between Phoenix's car-centric suburbs and San Francisco's diverse road users.
π» Team members from Waymo explain their roles in automating driving tasks that we often do subconsciously, such as perceiving our surroundings and planning our route.- π€ Edward Niedermeyer notes that robots are not entitled to anything. Instead, autonomous vehicles must respect human needs and find their space in society.
π The discussion addresses the shift from Waymo operating primarily in Phoenix to its activities in San Francisco, while noting their strong track record so far.
π΄ββοΈ The panelists stress the need for autonomous vehicles to have hyper-awareness of their surroundings, particularly in relation to vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.
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