Waymo has unveiled its sixth autonomous vehicle prototype, the Ojai, resulting from collaboration with Hyundai. This robotaxi eliminates the steering wheel and pedals, designed to operate without a driver on predefined routes. The company is betting on a new sensor architecture and a redesigned interior, with the aim of reducing manufacturing costs and increasing operational reliability in its commercial deployment.
An integrated sensor architecture to gain precision 📡
The Ojai's perception system is based on custom sensors that fuse cameras and LiDAR technology developed by Waymo. This integration seeks to offer more detailed and consistent environmental recognition. The new sensor arrangement in the vehicle simplifies production and aims to improve safety by processing data more efficiently, a key step to scale the fleet.
The first taxi that won't judge your destination? 😶
With the Ojai, we can finally live the experience of getting into a taxi without that look in the rearview mirror when we say turn at the next... no, at the other one. Its system won't make a disapproving face if we change the route halfway, nor will it emit an audible sigh when asked to stop at a tricky spot. That said, we'll have to see how it handles awkward conversations: its silence will be absolute.