Three self-driving Waymo vans have come to Los Angeles to build elaborate 3D maps of the city using laser lidar sensors, digital cameras and radar. WaymoTraffic-clogged Los Angeles hasn’t been a factor in the race to perfect self-driving car tech, with R&D and testing concentrated in Silicon Valley, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and even Las Vegas. WaymoWaymo has permits to test self-driving vehicles on public roads throughout California, even with no human safety driver at the wheel. And while it doesn’t need any specific permission to map Los Angeles, it’s coordinating its program with the city. “There’s a tremendous opportunity to learn about how and whether the performance of autonomous vehicles can be improved by being connected to city infrastructure,” Seleta Reynolds, urban transit expert and general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, says.

Source: Forbes October 07, 2019 15:56 UTC