Waymo Racks Up 5 Million Miles; Shows Off Self-Driving Skills in 360 Degree Video

Fresh from winning a $245 million settlement against Uber in i of the most remarkable corporate espionage cases in recent memory, Alphabet's autonomous vehicles unit, Waymo, says that it has racked upwardly 5 one thousand thousand cocky-driven miles on public roads in the Usa as information technology strives to become the kickoff company to launch an autonomous taxi service in the country. While the journey from three to 4 1000000 miles took six months, the company says the four to v million mile landmark was accomplished in simply under three months.

"What's more, that existent-world feel is multiplied on our private test track and in simulation. Last year lone our software drove 2.seven billion miles in the virtual globe, where nosotros create and examination entirely new driving scenarios for extra practice"

Waymo has been examination-driving its autonomous vehicles in and around its headquarters in Mount Valley, California, since early 2016, but has since expanded its testing program to include 25 U.s. cities, including Phoenix, Arizona, which is where the company reportedly intends to launch its commercial taxi service. Waymo'due south autonomous vehicles of choice are heavily re-engineered Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans that are fitted with state-of-the-art sensors, including LiDAR, radar and cameras.

The company has also released a 'Waymo 360° experience' video (embedded below), which gives viewers an opportunity to experience "what it'southward like to be driven past 1 of the nearly experienced drivers on the road", says the company, referring to the visitor's self-driving software.

In case yous're interested, y'all can view the video with a virtual reality headset based on Cardboard and Daydream, which should give you an "accurate experience" of riding in the company's fully cocky-driving car.