Waymo Exploring Self-Driving Trucks
Waymo’s fully self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Photo: Waymo
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Waymo’s fully self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Photo: Waymo
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Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous-driving unit Waymo is now also developing self-driving trucks, per published reports.
Reuters has reported that Waymo expects autonomous vehicles to be in a position eventually to take over long-haul trucking, although human drivers would still cover local P&D routes.
“Self-driving technology can transport people and things much more safely than we do today and reduce the thousands of trucking-related deaths each year,” a Waymo spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. “We’re taking our eight years of experience in building self-driving hardware and software and conducting a technical exploration into how our technology can integrate into a truck.
According to its posted report, BuzzFeed News first learned of Waymo’s truck work through a photograph. Waymo then confirmed that it was testing a truck by manually driving the semi on a public road to collect data. The Waymo spokesperson also confirmed that the company is currently testing only one truck.
Related: Uber Fires Self-Driving Head at Center of Legal Battle
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