Waymo cars are all over Chandler and Tempe in Arizona. I see many on a regular basis with a good portion self-driving.
It is neat to see all the roads you normally drive in the self-driving videos and it is almost taken for granted that they are here [1][2]. Chandler has always been in early on technology due to many reasons but that lots of programmers/engineers work here due to intel historically, projects like Iridium started here, also one of the first places to get cable/broadband internet in the 90s.
With that said, Chandler is very easy to drive, square roads, good weather, clean roads, clearly marked and kept up, minimal freeway needed etc. It is a great place to start but still lots for the cars/algos to learn, however it IS happening and I see it everyday.
Many of the videos are around Chandler downtown that is a bit busy and has lots of movement/pedestrians[3], so that is good that it is able to navigate that, it is close to busy urban environments.
Let's hope they start bringing these cars to upstate New York in the winter, only then can we seriously consider Level5. The salt layers on so thickly that I would be surprised if LIDAR and cameras could work through that. I am not sure of any solutions besides adding little wipers for all the sensors to keep them clean or adding more repellent paint.
Google does have wipers on at least one LIDAR design. Another sensor cleaner alternates sprays of washer fluid and compressed air. We had that on our DARPA Grand Challenge vehicle in 2005. Ford has a camera cleaner on some 2017 Ford pickups.[1]
Pittsburgh, where Uber's ATC is based, is another profoundly challenging environment— there are a lot of curvy cobblestone streets with >10% grade that haven't been maintained in decades.
And the weather is often snowy or sleety or otherwise unfriendly.
Just remember that the extra sensors are a "bonus": if a human being can successfully drive by just using their two eyes in the driving seat, with perhaps 200° range and a couple of mirrors, then an AI can be trained to do the same.
It is neat to see all the roads you normally drive in the self-driving videos and it is almost taken for granted that they are here [1][2]. Chandler has always been in early on technology due to many reasons but that lots of programmers/engineers work here due to intel historically, projects like Iridium started here, also one of the first places to get cable/broadband internet in the 90s.
With that said, Chandler is very easy to drive, square roads, good weather, clean roads, clearly marked and kept up, minimal freeway needed etc. It is a great place to start but still lots for the cars/algos to learn, however it IS happening and I see it everyday.
Many of the videos are around Chandler downtown that is a bit busy and has lots of movement/pedestrians[3], so that is good that it is able to navigate that, it is close to busy urban environments.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaOB-ErYq6Y
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw (360 degree experience)
[3] https://youtu.be/B8R148hFxPw?t=1m50s