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.
Cruise is reportedly nearing resuming robotaxi testing in Houston or Dallas. There is no schedule and currently deliberations continue. They will use "safety drivers" (which is of course expensive).
Waymo was hoping to soon expand its robotaxi service in Los Angeles and San Mateo, which would include San Francisco Airport. But the CPUC regulators ruled that their application for expansion has been suspended for 120 days, until June 2024.
A coalition of San Francisco residents, safety advocates and workers is demanding Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately ban self-driving taxis, accusing the companies that operate them of endangering public safety. Waymo counters with statements from disability groups (to whom Waymo donated generously). Taxi drivers explain that people with disabilities often need a driver to help.
The Giants can have a winning season again. They finally got rid of the Cruise patches! Boy, that sure was cringeworthy.
While robotaxi companies continue to make false claims about how they are all about safety, an actual solution moves forward. California Senate Bill 961 by Senator Scott Wiener would require Intelligent Speed Assist in new California vehicles in 2027. This is a proven, equitable, and workable solution.
Didi has withdrawn and other Chinese companies have scaled back from the California’s autonomous vehicle testing program. Didi’s exit from California comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China, with concerns about data collection practices. Plus could be due to public reaction due to Cruise issues.
The recent torching of a Waymo robotaxi shows that there simply is no smooth sailing for the company. Sure, they might drive somewhat better than Cruise vehicles. But they still have serious flaws that show that long term viability is doubtful. Plus they do stupid things, and when they do they are quite vulnerable. Therefore they have now become the target of robotaxi ire.
Article from Washington Post on how the first apparent Testa Full Self-Driving fatality was a Tesla employee who was a huge fan of the companies technology. Tragedy ensues.
Article from the Verge by Andrew J. Hawkins on why we don't have the autonomous vehicles we were promised. The excellent article presents not only the history of the development of autonomous vehicles, but also why it has taken so long, why the predictions have been so far off (especially with Tesla), and why so much money has been thrown at the technology.
It has been in the news that Elon Musk's $56B pay package was recently voided, because of a lawsuit by some heavy metal drummer. This of course merits a full explanation of what the heck happened, and a viewing of a video of the $56B drummer in action. He is very worthy!
False excitement on autonomous vehicles by showing that testing by Apple had tripled. The article is misleading since the reason the increase in testing miles was a factor of three was because Apple had previously done so little testing.
A discussion between David Zipper and California State Senator Scott Wiener on new legislation to mandate speed regulators on new vehicles. Explains the details on why mandating this simple and already existing technology would greatly improve safety on our roads. Also covers rebuttals to common arguments used against making this safety improvement.
Aptiv is scaling back involvement in its self-driving joint venture Motional, halting further funding and reducing its stake after heavy losses. The move mirrors industry peers like GM and Ford, who face challenges in developing autonomous driving.
General Motors is slashing Cruise's 2024 budget by $1 billion despite a commitment to its robotaxi venture. Following an accident resulting in investigations, GM seeks to refocus Cruise, now enduring a $2.7 billion loss and restructuring. CEO Barra emphasizes safety and talent retention, as expansion plans are paused.
An investigation by Quinn Emanuel law firm into an October crash involving a Cruise driverless car revealed a lack of clear communication with regulators and prioritization of reputation over safety. Following the incident, the Justice Department and other agencies are investigating, Cruise has halted operations, laid off staff, and replaced its CEO. The self-driving subsidiary of General Motors is now seeking to rebuild trust and resume business..
