What is a Robotaxi?
A Robotaxi is a vehicle that uses artificial intelligence and sensors to drive, navigate, and operate autonomously. Autonomous vehicles have difficulty navigating bad weather. Fog can damage sensor data. And ice can form on the lidar, inhibiting the sensor’s ability to send out laser points to gauge distance from other objects on the road. But what if we could create another solution for these vehicles to operate in any weather condition? The answer lies within the development of Robotaxis as mobile weather stations.
Creating a Mobile Weather Station
Measuring and recording weather conditions is one of the most important aspects of long-term forecasting. Waymo’s street-level detection augments weather station data. Waymo’s fleet can use this map to track the progression of coastal fogs flowing from the Pacific Ocean and how they burn off when the sun rises. Waymo’s early testing was focused in Arizona, which has sunny, dry weather and a relatively flat environment. However, in recent years, the company has expanded its testing to include more hazardous conditions
This information will be sent to a central hub, where it will be compiled and filed in a database, allowing meteorologists and other users to access this information. This data will provide the city with an accurate forecast and allow autonomous vehicles to make the necessary adjustments to their software and sensors.
So far, the Robotaxis has performed admirably in light fog and light rain. Waymo anticipates that by incorporating more hyperlocal, real-time data into its prediction and decision-making capabilities, its vehicles will be even more successful in navigating through treacherous conditions in the near future.
