Waymo robotaxis get A LOT of bad press, from breaking traffic laws to scaring the life out of passengers with dangerous maneuvers. Many residents of the cities in which these autonomous cars operate have expressed irritation at the way the robotaxis can clog the streets, but Waymo is now using its network of self-driving cars to make the roads better for all users, reports Automotive News, by partnering with Waze to find and report potholes so that other drivers can avoid them and the authorities can do something about filling them.
Google’s Companies Come Together to Improve Road Network
Waymo
Waymo and Waze are both owned by Google parent company Alphabet, so a tie-up seems almost obvious. The pilot program will use Waymo robotaxis’ sensors to identify potholes in and around the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles in California, Phoenix, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin, Texas. This data will be shared with local transportation departments through Waze for Cities, a system that provides traffic data with the purpose of informing smarter infrastructure decisions. These departments can also use the platform to notify drivers of traffic congestion, crashes, and hazards before other drivers do, also providing timely information on disasters and emergencies. As with other hazards on Waze, pothole alerts can be seen and verified by app users.
Related: WATCH: Tesla Robotaxi Tells Passenger to Exit Car at 40 MPH
San Jose, California, Mayor Matt Mahan said, “We’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver better services for residents. We appreciate the collaboration with Waymo and Waze as we explore how technology can help identify issues like potholes faster so we can respond more efficiently.” It seems to be working, as Waymo has reportedly identified approximately 500 potholes since the pilot program began.
Waymo Still Has a Long Way to Go Before Widespread Acceptance
Riley Walz
While there are other positive stories about Waymo, like the time it helped get a pregnant woman giving birth in a robotaxi to the hospital before emergency services could get to her, surprise crashes are still happening. The company’s self-driving taxis have also made headlines for being unable to close their own doors, and New York’s governor blocked Waymo’s rollout there, citing a lack of support for the program. Clearly, the country and the world at large need more time to warm to the robotaxi concept, but with Tesla making progress in this space, at least Waymo’s ability to help maintain the road network is a valuable feather in its cap that Elon Musk’s company cannot lay claim to.