The Future of Driving is Autonomous with Dmitri Dolgov of Waymo | How I Built This with Guy Raz

Intro

In this episode of “How I Built This with Guy Raz,” host Guy Raz speaks with Dmitri Dolgov, co-CEO of Waymo, about the future of autonomous driving. Waymo, a company spun out of Google, is focused on developing fully autonomous vehicles and has made significant strides in achieving this goal. Dolgov shares insights into the challenges and milestones Waymo has encountered on their journey towards full autonomy.

Main Takeaways

Autonomous Vehicle Development and Early Challenges

• Waymo operates similar to Uber or Lyft, but is fully autonomous.
• Waymo was spun out of Google a few years ago.
• The founders of Google gave Waymo two years to drive 100,000 miles in autonomous mode and complete 10 routes of 100 miles each in full autonomy.
• The early days of the project were like a startup, with a small team working around the clock to achieve an impossible goal.
• The team encountered challenges such as closed toll booths and unexpected obstacles on the road.

Shift to Full Autonomy and Safety Focus

• Waymo made the decision to pursue full autonomy in 2013 after successful testing of driver assist technology.
• Over-reliance on driver assist systems was a key reason for the shift to full autonomy.
• Waymo’s goal is to improve transportation globally through full autonomy.
• Waymo’s technology uses a combination of cameras, LiDAR, and radar sensors to provide a comprehensive view of the environment.
• Safety was a top priority, leading to the development of custom safety systems and sensors.

Waymo’s Deployment and Future Plans

• Waymo’s first deployment was the Waymo One product and application, which was launched in Chandler, Arizona.
• In 2020, Waymo launched the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service open to the public in Chandler, Arizona.
• Waymo sees themselves as building a generalizeable Waymo driver and plans to deploy it in different commercial applications, including ride-hailing, trucking and deliveries, and personally owned vehicles.
• Waymo is focused on ride-hailing as their primary business line.
• In the future, autonomous taxis will be available in most major US urban centers, optimizing transportation systems and increasing road throughput.

Safety and Benefits of Autonomous Vehicles

• Autonomous vehicles offer benefits of privacy and convenience.
• Current transportation systems cause a significant number of deaths each year, while autonomous vehicles have demonstrated clear safety benefits.
• Liability for accidents involving autonomous vehicles is a complex ethical and legal question.
• Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have shown a 100% reduction in bodily injury claims and a 4x reduction in property damage claims over almost 4 million miles of operation.

Summary

Waymo’s Journey Towards Full Autonomy

Waymo, a company spun out of Google, is focused on developing fully autonomous vehicles. In the early days of the project, Waymo faced numerous challenges, including closed toll booths and unexpected obstacles on the road. However, the team persisted and learned from each failure, continuously improving the system. Waymo made the decision to shift from driver assist technology to full autonomy in 2013, with a focus on improving transportation globally. They have developed a robust safety framework and utilize a combination of cameras, LiDAR, and radar sensors to ensure a comprehensive view of the environment. Waymo’s first deployment, Waymo One, is a ride-hailing service that operates 24/7 in San Francisco. They plan to deploy their technology in various commercial applications, including ride-hailing, trucking, and personally owned vehicles. Autonomous vehicles offer benefits of privacy and convenience, and Waymo’s vehicles have demonstrated significant safety improvements. The future of transportation is autonomous, with autonomous taxis expected to be available in most major US urban centers in the coming years.

Conclusion

Waymo, the autonomous driving division spun out of Google, is at the forefront of developing fully autonomous vehicles. Through their journey, Waymo has overcome challenges and achieved significant milestones. Their focus on safety and continuous improvement has led to impressive results, with a reduction in bodily injury and property damage claims. Waymo’s deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services and their plans for future applications demonstrate their commitment to revolutionizing transportation. As the future becomes increasingly autonomous, Waymo envisions a world where most people will be driven by their cars, optimizing transportation systems and increasing road throughput.