Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, has announced the commencement of its autonomous vehicle testing in Philadelphia. The testing phase will involve a limited fleet equipped with human safety drivers. Waymo plans to start this testing in the fall, focusing on complex areas such as downtown and highways.
The company aims to collect mapping data and evaluate its autonomous driving technology, Waymo Driver, in new environments. This includes understanding traffic patterns and local infrastructure. The testing will span various neighborhoods, from North Central to Eastwick, and from University City to the Delaware River.
Waymo's "road trips" are designed to assess the feasibility of offering paid ride-hailing services in specific locations based on the performance of their technology in different settings.
