Uber Restarts DriverlessTests In California; Waymo Tests Driverless Trucks On Texas and New Mexico Roads

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. February 06, 2020; This is part of a self-driving big rig test conducted by Waymo, the California-based autonomous driving technology company that’s owned by Alphabet Inc. Waymo is mapping and testing the trucks in these areas because they are “interesting and promising commercial routes,” the company said on Twitter. Management is exploring how the “Waymo Driver,” it’s branded self-driving system, can be used to “create new transportation solutions.” Waymo will concentrate on interstates because Texas has a particularly high freight volume, the company said. Texas testing will occur on highways around Dallas, Houston and El Paso. In New Mexico, Waymo will focus on the southern part of the state, particularly Interstate 10, which is a critical stretch of highway in both states. TuSimple, a self-driving trucking startup with operations in Tucson and San Diego also tests on I-10 in New Mexico and Texas.

Waymo will concentrate on interstates because Texas has a particularly high freight volume, the company said. Texas testing will occur on highways around Dallas, Houston and El Paso. In New Mexico, Waymo will focus on the southern part of the state, particularly Interstate 10, which is a critical stretch of highway in both states. TuSimple, a self-driving trucking startup with operations in Tucson and San Diego also tests on I-10 in New Mexico and Texas.

Waymo has tested its self-driving trucks in other locales, including Arizona, the San Francisco area and Atlanta. The company is best known for its pursuit of a robotaxi service. The test of autonomous long-haul trucks is the latest sign that Alphabet Inc. is expanding beyond its original focus.

Uber to Restart Self-Driving Car Tests in California

A new permit allows Uber to restart self-driving vehicle tests, two years after pedestrian death.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. February 10, 2020; The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued a permit to Uber Technologies’ self-driving unit, Uber Advanced Technologies, which allows the ride-sharing company to restart tests for its self-driving vehicles, reports Automotive News. This comes almost two years after an Uber Advanced Technologies autonomous vehicle killed a pedestrian in Arizona.

Tests must have a backup driver in the car and although the company doesn’t have immediate plans to engage in autonomous driving on public roads in California, the new permit gets them one step closer. Once it’s ready, the company will notify local, state and federal stakeholders beforehand.

After the fatal accident in May 2018, Tech Crunch says that Uber resumed on-road testing in Pittsburgh in December 2018 and has already started to map out Washington, D.C., this year. The company plans to launch autonomous vehicles in D.C. before the end of 2020.