Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
The news media has expended considerable effort researching and publishing information about the robotaxi business. This channel highlights some of the important articles.
The NY Times reports on how Tesla robotaxi hype has greatly inflated the Tesla stock price yet Tesla doesn't even have the technology for autonomous driving and no road to profitability.
NY Times reports on how China is now delaying their plans for widespread adoption of robotaxis. It turns out that they are no where near safe enough for full autonomy.
SF Standard reports on how the Waymo problem in San Francisco was due to both to traffic signals going out and Waymo's reliance on the cellular system to use actual humans when there are unusual problems. There will be hearings on both the culpability of PG&E and of Waymo.
NY Times reports on how Waymo robotaxis would cause significant problems when the next big earthquake hits San Francisco.
NY Times reports on the widespread Waymo outage in San Francisco during a power failure. The allegedly autonomous Waymos turn out to depend on the cellular system to operate. But the truly scary thing is that Waymo did not even have a contingency plan. They had to be told by the Mayor's Office to suspend service.
Mission Local reports on the disaster that was Waymo during a power outage. Waymos were stuck all over, blocking traffic and emergency access. This was due to the vehicles not actually being truly autonomous, but instead on relying on cellular communication that apparently Waymo didn't realize doesn't work when power goes out for a while.
KRON4 reports that Waymo still has not answered the basic question of how did that person get into the Waymo. Also, note that the mother violated the safety rules which specifically disallow minors from riding unaccompanied.
The Register reports that the California DMV is not at all happy with Tesla's marketing the "Autopilot" system. They have found Tesla to be in violation. If they do not update their marketing materials within 60 days they will be suspended from sales in California for 30 days.
Bloomberg reports that Waymo is currently trying to raise $15 Billion in order to have a near $100 Billion valuation. If they have to run over a few cats and dogs to get there, so be it.
San Antonio News reports on a video showing a Waymo blatantly going the wrong way down a one-way frontage road. Better than human drivers???
TechCrunch reports that Tesla has started testing their "robotaxis" without safety drivers, even though they clearly do not yet have the technology to do so safely.
First time Waymo rider gets quite the fright when their Waymo cuts in front of another driver.
SF Chronicle reports that an odd hitch hiker was found in the back of a Waymo. We have questions ere. First, how old was daughter that the ride was being arranged for?? It is not allowed to send a child alone in a Waymo because clearly unexpected things might happen. Second, with all the sensors and supposed technology how did a really odd person sneak into the vehicle?? Third, wouldn't a human driver have prevented this from ever happening??
NY Times reports on what actually happened when a Waymo robotaxi ran over and killed another animal. It should be noted that the cat did not suddenly dart in front of the vehicle as it pulled away, as Waymo claimed. Instead, a bystander stood in front of the vehicle and tried to lure out the cat, and that the vehicle did not realize that the cat was in danger. A human driver would have of course noticed that a person was trying to get the cat from under the car.
TechCrunch reports on how complaints on Tesla's behaving dangerously just keep on piling up.
