A robot stole my luggage!
Now we know Waymo's full business plan: stealing luggage when dropping people off at the airport. No wonder they aren't allowed at SFO.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
News
The news media has expended considerable effort researching and publishing information about the robotaxi business. This channel highlights some of the important articles.
Read MoreA robot stole my luggage!
NY Times – How Self-Driving Cars Get Help From Humans Hundreds of Miles Away
NY Times reports on the myth of "driverless" robotaxis. It turns out that all of the robotaxi companies have large and expensive remote operation centers, where actual humans help drive the vehicles for the inevitable situations where automation simply does not work.
NY Times – Waymo’s Robot Taxis Are Almost Mainstream. Can They Now Turn a Profit?
NY Times asks the truly pertinent question: is Waymo a viable business that will continue? While most articles dwell on safety issues, the NY Times digs into how Waymo might not continue once it realizes it is in a hopeless taxi business where they have to front all the costs.
SF Examiner – Cruise, Waymo driving in opposite directions a year after watershed vote
SF Examiner reports on how Cruise has vanished from SF by their ineptitude, but that Waymo has continued to grow.
SF Examiner – California ban on driverless trucks heads to Newsom’s desk — again
SF Examiner reports that the California state Legislature has once again approved requiring vehicles over 10,000 to have a human operator on board. It is now up to Gov Newsom to sign the legislation. But given his love of lobbyists he will most likely veto it for the second time.
Mission Local – Driverless cars won’t be ticketed in last-minute about-face for CA state bill
Mission Local reports on how robotaxis will not be ticketed for breaking the law after all, perpetuating a two tiered system for safety.
UC Davis – Half of Uber, Lyft Trips Replace More Sustainable Options
UC Davis study shows that contrary to claims by Uber and Lyft, their trips replace more sustainable options like transit and walking, half the time. And of course, robotaxis are exactly the same.
SF Chronicle – Waymo eyes S.F. robotaxi expansion, personal vehicles after first-year ‘success’
SF Chronicle reports that Waymo is starting to understand that they need to have a profitable business in order to continue.
Jalopnik – Tesla Can’t Even Make Full-Self Driving Work In A Tunnel It Built
Jalopnik reports on how Tesla will continue to NOT be able to use FSD in the Las Vegas tunnel. Some form of driver assistance, yes, but not FSD. And this is the technology that robotaxis are to be based on?
Wired – Waymo Is Picking Up at the Airport. That’s a Big Deal
Wired reports that Waymo has not started curbside pickups and drop-offs at the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport in Arizona. And indeed, people who cannot lift their suitcases into the trunk will simply not be accommodated.
CNBC – Tesla’s Optimus faces stiff humanoid competition at Beijing robot conference
CNBC reports that at the World Robot Conference many humanlike robots were doing various activities. But the Tesla Optimus Robot was stationary, in a plastic box, not even powered on. This is a preview of the Tesla robotaxi unveiling, which, if it ever happens, will be another Elon Musk farce.
WSJ – Tesla Finance VP Departs in Latest Executive Exit at Automaker
WSJ reports that yet another import VP has departed from Tesla. The rats are clearly jumping ship, given their lack of faith in Tesla's purported future.
Bloomberg – Uber to Begin Offering Self-Driving Cruise Cars, Shares Fall
Bloomberg reports on an purported deal where Uber will offer Cruise robotaxi rides early 2025.
SF Standard – Parents’ hush-hush back-to-school hack: Sending their kids off in a Waymo
SF Standard reports that the reason some people like Waymo robotaxis is because they are able to have their kids ride alone, since there is no human driver to enforce the rules.
Streetsblog – Is America Ready for the Equity Impacts of the AV Revolution?
Streetsblog reports on how equity implications of autonomous vehicles has not at all been adequately addressed
