Waymo, a subsidiary of tech giant Google, recently announced that it will put the brakes on its self-driving truck program. The company had previously tested its self-driving trucks on Arizona roads, but after encountering “complex challenges”, it has decided to instead focus on its self-driving car program.
The self-driving truck program began in 2016 but Waymo had yet to make a commercial breakthrough with the technology. While Waymo had hoped to use the technology to develop a new generation of safer, more efficient trucks, the company experienced challenges related to safety, logistics, and truck technology. In addition, the program faced roadblocks due to regulatory restrictions.
The decision to pull the plug on the self-driving truck program does not mean Waymo is abandoning the idea altogether. Instead, the company will focus on making its self-driving cars more commercially viable. The company is already working towards achieving its goals of deploying driverless cars that can travel autonomously on public roads without the need for a human operator.
This shift in focus may come as a disappointment for fans of self-driving technology who were eager to see a fleet of autonomous trucks on the roads. However, the move appears to make sense as tests have shown that the technology is not yet ready for commercial use. Furthermore, it could provide the company with more resources to dedicate to its car driving program, which is more mature and advanced.
While Waymo is putting the brakes on its self-driving truck program, the company still has ambitious plans for its self-driving car technology. Waymo is hoping to use its technology for taxi and ride-sharing services, delivery services, and last-mile transportation solutions. These services are expected to be available to the public in the near future.
With this decision, Waymo is taking a sensible approach to its self-driving technology. The company is focusing on developing autonomous cars which are more mature and ready for commercial use. While this move may disappoint some fans of self-driving technology, it could eventually lead to more efficient and safer self-driving vehicles on the roads.
