Bad weather has been mentioned at large as one of the biggest barricades to getting autonomous cars on the road. It is obvious that rain and snow will cause obstruction to roadway markings and roadside signs, which are in frequent use for navigation purposes. However, Waymo, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google’s a self-driving car subsidiary company intends to find a way of overcoming these barriers.
It is yet to hold a public launch of its self-driving technology; not until it is sure of being able to tackle the challenging road conditions its autonomous vehicle are likely to face. Not only does the deep cold and blanketing snow affect traction and vehicle handling but it also damages the sensors and optics.
The testing of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans
The testing of Waymo’s Pacifica vans on public roads began in January in both California and Arizona. The minivans were taken to a mild environment of Silicon Valley before being exposed to more harsh conditions. However, a recent tweet image by Waymo’s CEO John Krafcik shows a picture of the self-driving minivans in the snow in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Driving in rain and snow requires windshield wipers. Apparently, Waymo seems to have one in place that is expected to meet the demands of bad weather. In a blog post, the company stated, “We’ve had to come up with our own equivalent of a windscreen wiper on the (sensor-containing) dome to ensure our sensors have the best view possible.”
Waymo expects to extend its testing of its self-driving minivans to other areas
Waymo is currently confining the testing of its self-driving minivans at South Lake Tahoe in California. Apart from the fact that the location provides snowy environs, it is also within the domain of its license to test autonomous systems.
However, there is room for flexibility. Thus it is also targeting other areas that have severe weather conditions the likes of Michigan and Kirkland. The exploration is expected to enhance the focus on the improvement of the minivans. In the meantime, Alphabet’s stock closed at $838.51 witnessing an increase of $3.37 or 0.40%.
