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.
TechCrunch reports that Waymo is under yet another investigation for violating traffic safety laws and passing by stopped school buses, some with children crossing the street. This investigation is by the National Transportation Safety Board. They do not actually regulate the Waymo robotaxis, but they are experts in conducting safety investigations.
electrek reports on how Tesla robotaxis are still in no way automomous. Musk recently announced that Tesla would be operating service without a safety driver human in the car. Turns out the safety human is simply in another car following close behind. Just as the Tesla Optimus "robots" are simply teleoperated puppets, the Tesla robotaxis aren't actually autonomous. But hey, expect lots of BS at the earnings announcement on January 26 in order to keep the stock inflated as much as possible.
SF Chronicle reports that parents continue to knowingly break California regulations and allow their kids to ride in Waymos unaccompanied. And Waymo doesn't seem to care in the least that they are regularly violating their state permit. What could possibly go wrong??
Fun!
Mission Local reports that indeed, a Zoox vehicle struck another car, resulting in an injury and damage to both vehicles. And Zoox isn't even providing full passenger service yet.
Waymo does it again. A whole flotilla of them managed to block quite a large intersection. This occurred because they still do not "know" how to handle traffic signal outages.
SF Chronicle reports that Waymo continues to try to hide necessary safety related information about the extensive problems that occurred during the power blackout. They clearly are trying their best to not work with the regulators.
SF Chronicle reports on the buffonery that occurred between City Hall and Waymo during the recent power outage. Clearly neither the city nor Waymo was prepared for such a serious problem.
And it is definitely past time for Mayor Lurie to acknowledge that illegally allowing Waymos on car-free Market Street was a huge mistake on his part.
Waymo vehicle shows incredibly poor and dangerous driving as it gets stuck on a light rail track with a train approaching just behind it. The passenger wisely got the heck out of that vehicle. Another unhappy Waymo customer!
David Zipper reports in Bloomberg on how regardless of the debate of whether robotaxis are safer or not, there are definitely many better ways to improve traffic safety. Just look at cities that are already much safer.
NY Times reports on how Waymo continues to flaunt California regulations and allows unattended minors to ride in Waymos.
SF Chronicle reports that even more San Franciscans are going to be upset with Waymo now that they are regularly taking up public parking spaces.
The Telegraph reports that Waymos and other robotaxis will be coming to England. But also notes that some of their "supervisors" are located all the over in the Philippines. Sure hope nothing goes wrong (as it has many times in San Francisco)!
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.
