Waymo begins operations with 6th-generation autonomous driving system

Waymo announced it has begun fully autonomous operations using its 6th-generation Driver system, marking a step in the company's expansion plans across multiple cities and vehicle platforms.

The new system incorporates what the company describes as a streamlined configuration designed to reduce costs while maintaining safety standards. According to Waymo, the technology builds on experience from nearly 200 million fully autonomous miles driven across more than 10 major cities.

The 6th-generation system features a 17-megapixel camera sensor that Waymo states delivers higher resolution than traditional automotive cameras at comparable cost. The vision system includes integrated cleaning mechanisms to address weather-related visibility issues such as raindrops and road grime.

The updated lidar technology uses laser beams to create three-dimensional point cloud images of surroundings. Waymo reports the system can distinguish between smaller objects like pedestrians and larger vehicles in various lighting conditions. The company said it leveraged industry-wide cost reductions in lidar technology over recent years.

The radar component creates what Waymo describes as dense temporal maps to track distance, velocity and size of objects in different weather conditions. The system also includes external audio receivers positioned around the vehicle to detect sounds such as emergency vehicle sirens.

Waymo stated the technology can be adapted to different vehicle platforms, including the company's Ojai vehicle and the Hyundai IONIQ 5. The system is being produced at the company's facility in Metro Phoenix, with plans to scale toward tens of thousands of units annually.

The company said it will continue providing trips to employees and guests while refining the rider experience before opening to the public.

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