Are these robotaxis really ready for prime time?

After it was seen late at night building and humming its Robotaxis, Waymo announced plans for substantial expansion.

Do these robotaxis truly meet the requirements for a high-level implementation?

There will undoubtedly be more mayhem as Waymo attempts to spread its robotaxi service throughout California, as seen by the occasion when a few bewildered Waymo cabs were seen honking at one another all night long in open parking lots.

Waymo intends to expand into the East Bay, San Jose, and the roads encircling San Francisco Bay, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. In actuality, the proliferation of Waymo robotaxis has accelerated since it was introduced last month in Daly City and other neighboring residential areas of San Francisco.

Waymo is already up and running outside of the Bay in Phoenix, Arizona, and in a restricted capacity in Los Angeles.
After running a paid service in San Francisco for more than a year “without any serious incidents,” the robotaxi startup views the forthcoming expansion as the next logical step, according to the Chronicle.

“I’m happy to report that it’s been a huge success, looking back over the past year,” Waymo director of product management David Margines told the newspaper.

And that’s only the beginning. Google subsidiary Waymo hopes to eventually integrate its technology into delivery cars, long-haul trucks, and eventually private automobiles, becoming yet another player in the autonomous vehicle market.

However, campaigners and local communities are very concerned about the growth of autonomous vehicles because they perceive them as a threat or an annoyance.

Gridlock in traffic

One example would be the recent tales of Waymos in a parking lot in the middle of the night honking at one another, disturbing up neighbors at all hours.

Margines claims that the past year has been successful, but there have been reports of crashes and Waymos traveling in the wrong direction, which have forced the robotaxi business to recall its cars and opened a government inquiry.

The more than two dozen Waymo-related events, which included collisions or infractions of traffic laws, have raised concerns among disgruntled locals and community groups even though no injuries were reported.

There are other robotaxi companies that have drawn attention besides Waymo. Following a federal investigation into two occurrences involving the Cruise robotaxi service that resulted in pedestrian injuries, General Motors recalled its Cruise robotaxis earlier this month.

In response to recent Waymo and Cruise mishaps, a group of labor, traffic safety, and San Franciscans has been pleading with Governor Gavin Newsom to outlaw robotaxis in the city.

However, it appears that more robotaxis are on the horizon.