Waymo is Torture-Testing its Tech in Florida
Florida may be known as the Sunshine State, but that’s not what’s brought Waymo’s autonomous vehicles to the peninsula. Rather, Waymo wanted to test its tech in the torrential rain.
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Rainy days in the Sunshine State
In order for its vehicles to function safely and properly, Waymo needs to test its autonomous cars under all sorts of conditions. When the company wanted to gather data on how its vehicles performed in wintery conditions, it set up camp in Michigan. Now, it’s heading to Naples, Florida, so its cars can experience the area’s rainy season. That particular region sees about 62 inches of rain per year, making it the perfect place to test Waymo’s technology.
The art of driving in the rain
While our eyes and brains have an easier time figuring out how to drive in the rain, an autonomous car’s cameras and sensors easily get scrambled by an influx of noisy rain data. Testing in the rain will help Waymo develop methods to help its cars understand what they’re “seeing” in rainy weather. Plus, humans drive differently in the rain — meaning that self-driving vehicles need to learn how to accommodate the cautious behaviors of human road users.
Autonomous vehicle testing will begin on a closed course in Naples. After an initial round of development, the company plans to test its vehicles on public roads around Miami — albeit with a human backup driver on board.
Florida: Land of autonomous vehicles?
When it comes to testing driverless cars, companies have limited options. However, it’s likely that more tech companies will flock to Florida, thanks to House Bill 311. This bill allows for the testing of autonomous vehicles without a backup driver, as well as permitting TV/video displays in self-driving vehicles.
“We here in Florida are pioneering the most exciting innovations in transportation,” said representative Jason Fischer. “This bill on self-driving cars will usher in a new era of smart cities that will not only expand our economy but increase road safety and decrease traffic congestion.”
With this kind of support, it’s possible that Florida will attract other autonomous tech ventures.
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Source: CNET
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