The Waymo article focused on testing, both physical and virtual. This article just describes the visualization tool that Uber uses to replay SDC logs. They might use the same tool to control and view simulations, but the article doesn't really touch on that.
I have a serious question. Should this be a web visualization? Doesn't all the abstraction lead to performance hits? Tons of data needs to be pulled off the hard drive, network, RAM and shoved into the graphics card. Is putting a web browser in the middle of that pipeline the most efficient use of resources? I feel like it is a hammer situation.
I am thinking about the end application. All the more reason to ignore all of the benefits of a web solution and spin the highest performance version. Because performance is critical when viewing tons of cameras and lidar with near-realtime playback.
That's a reasonable tool. Everybody in self-driving has something similar. Now if they let others look at the data collected by their vehicles, that would be interesting.
Pretty obvious attempt by uber to demonstrate their self-driving abilities to a national audience skeptical of their progress after having been ousted stealing technology secrets from waymo.
In short its propaganda, I have no doubts waymo is light years ahead of the current efforts of uber. Uber is trying to change the public perception in their favor.
Competition is good. I would be really worried if Waymo is the only one demonstrating their visualization capabilities. It also encourages more showcase of technologies which is generally good for the public. SDC has been too secretive of an arm race. You can take sides all you want but I think this move of Uber is one that is beneficial to everyone.
Propaganda is information that isn't objective and is used primarily to influence an audience. Unless you're arguing that all techie blog posts are propaganda, it's hard to understand how this qualifies.
Imagine this was a Show HN by someone else. It would get a lot of praise. So why does that praise turn sour just because it's Uber?