Wired – Ahead of Protests, Waymo Scales Back Robotaxi Service Nationwide
Waymo is apparently a bit tired of being the target of political ire. So they are hiding away for a few days.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Safety
All the robotaxi companies claim that their safety is much better than obsolete human drivers. But are they really safer given that they seem to crash so often? This clearly needs to be investigated further.
Read MoreWired – Ahead of Protests, Waymo Scales Back Robotaxi Service Nationwide
electrek – Tesla Full Self-Driving hasn’t improved all year and Musk points to more wait
electrek reports that the Tesla robotaxi rollout is delayed, to the surprise of absolute no one.
Lawsuit filed for cyclist seriously injured by two Waymo robotaxis
A lawsuit has been filed by a cyclist in San Francisco who was seriously injured by two (yes, two!) Waymo robotaxis. This demonstrates why Waymo should not be allowed on the transit only portions of Market Street. They simply are not safe with respect to bicyclists.
electrek – Tesla admits it would ‘suffer financial harm’ if its self-driving crash data becomes public
electrek reports on how Tesla continues to try to hide their crash data.
Reddit – Wheel came off my Waymo while driving full speed through an intersection
A Waymo user reports on Reddit on how they were going feel speed through an intersection in Austin when a front wheel, yup, just plain fell off.
Bloomberg – A Fatal Tesla Crash Shows the Limits of Full Self-Driving
Bloomberg reports on how a fatal crash of a Tesla on FSD shows that the autonomous system is simply not safe because their sensors are completely inadequate.
The Hill Opinion – Autonomous vehicles should have to pass a driver’s test, just like anyone else
The Hill Opinion piece on how autonomous vehicle systems should have to pass a drivers test. The current lack of regulations is simply not appropriate.
SF Chronicle – Waymos are getting more assertive. Why the driverless taxis are learning to drive like humans
SF Chronicle reports on how autonomous Waymos are starting to pick up all the bad habits of human drivers.
Jalopnik – Tesla Running So-Called ‘Full Self-Driving’ Software Splatters ‘Child’ In School Bus Test
Jalopnik reports that the safety of Tesla FSD was once again tested. This time the Tesla on FSD drove right past a stopped school bus with its Stop sign extended and red lights flashing, and then proceeded to identify a dummy as a pedestrian yet hit it at full speed anyways. FSD is simply not a viable autonomous driving system. And Tesla is completely unprepared to run a robotaxi syndrome system.
NY Times – Driverless Semi Trucks Are Here, With Little Regulation and Big Promises
NY Times reports that driverless trucks are starting in Texas, but with very little oversight. And it must be noted that Aurora has reverted to having human drivers as backups, which ensures that there will be no cost saving for now.
Fortune – Questions swirl as Tesla nears Austin launch day for high stakes driverless robotaxi launch
Fortune reports on how Tesla is supposed to launch their robotaxi system in Austin in June, yet they lack the fundamental technology to operate autonomous vehicles. Surely they will simply be using human drivers in what is basically an absurdly expensive ride hailing scheme.
electrek – Tesla Full Self-Driving veers off road, flips car in scary crash driver couldn’t prevent
electrek reports on how a 2025 Tesla in (Non) Full Self-Driving mode suddenly veered off the road for no reason. And Tesla is supposed to start a robotaxi service in June???
Dallas Morning News – Aurora adds human driver back to Texas truck route
Dallas Morning News reports that Aurora has had to add backup drivers for their autonomous trucks due to safety concerns. Appears that autonomous trucks are not going to live up to their cost saving hype given that they need both a driver and really expensive technology.
electrek – Tesla’s robotaxi fleet will be powered by ‘plenty of teleoperation’
electrek also reports how Tesla robotaxis will actually be teleoperated. And it must be noted that teleoperation of cars simply is not safe.
CNBC – Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions
CNBC reports of another recall of Waymo robotaxis. This time the problem was that they drove into chains, gates, and other roadway barriers, situations that would have been easily avoided by human drivers.
