Uber, Waymo Robotaxi Service Opens To Passengers In Atlanta

Waymo and Uber have launched a robotaxi service in Atlanta, allowing users to book autonomous rides through the Uber app across a 65-square-mile area. They will not yet travel on highways or to the airport. CNBC reports: The vehicles feature Waymo's driverless technology, known as the Waymo Driver, integrated into battery electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs. [...] In Atlanta and Austin, Waymo rides are only available through Uber's app, while in San Francisco and Los Angeles, passengers book through the Waymo One app.

Waymo said it would start with dozens of robotaxis live in Atlanta. The company says it currently has more than 1,500 autonomous vehicles in its U.S. fleet. The Waymo-Uber partnership only covers passenger rides, not Uber Eats deliveries.

Uber?

[timeOday]

I like Waymo, they're the ones getting it done. I know they've partnered with Uber, but I hope it's not exclusive. Waymo's technology is about a million times more sophisticated than Uber. It will save many lives. I would like to see it be used more widely.

Re:

[thegarbz]

If you want to reach people properly you'll need to provide people who find your ideas intriguing a way to subscribe to your newsletter.

Meanwhile Tesla

[rsilvergun]

Is over in Austin driving on the wrong side of the road.

From what it looks like Tesla is using tele operators to drive the cars. Waymo does the too but to a much lesser degree.

Re:Meanwhile Tesla

[thegarbz]

Waymo does the too but to a much lesser degree.

Actually no, waymo offers no way for tele operators to "drive the cars". What they can do is issue specific directions for the autonomous system to follow, e.g. park here, move there, stop, go left, etc.

When a Waymo really gets stuck they send a person out to drive the car manually from within the car. Or they give access to emergency services to do so. Those cases are incredibly rare for them.