Cyra Richardson

Examining Claims About Waymo's Autonomous Vehicles Several people are raising concerns about the development and deployment of Waymo's autonomous vehicles, including accusations of inadequate transparency, use of guinea pigs, and inferior simulation technology. These are serious claims meriting thoughtful analysis, especially for a technology with such potential impact on public safety. I admit that autonomous vehicle technology is not my specific area of expertise. As an excited but earnest observer, I clearly lack key perspectives or insights someone working directly in the field would have. Rather than dismiss worrisome warnings, I aim to cut through accusations to find truthful feedback on how to enable innovation while protecting people. Based on current third-party research, Waymo seems to demonstrate safety levels exceeding human driving capabilities: - An extensive 2021 study by Swiss Re, a highly reputable global reinsurer, analyzed over 3.8 million miles of rider-only autonomous driving by Waymo and found zero bodily injury claims, along with reduced property damage claim frequency. - Additional findings from Waymo compare their vehicles' safety record over millions of miles to real-world human driving benchmarks. These indicate their system effectively avoids collisions and resulting injuries at rates far surpassing human drivers. - There are no clear indications that Waymo uses subpar simulation practices. Their published details highlight advanced proprietary simulation capabilities for modeling sensor data and scenarios. While not definitive, this research implies Waymo prioritizes safety and due diligence during development. Transparency and accountability remain crucial as the technology evolves. The posters have not cited any specific data sources that expose deficiencies in Waymo's approach, however the background of those commenting suggest they are experts on the topic so I would like to get to the bottom of it without fear mongering. When discussing these items, I’m always looking for evidence-based discussions on these issues. If there are flaws in Waymo's methodologies or gaps in their public reporting, sharing these is highly productive. As this technology matures, our discourse and decision-making processes should reflect the same rigor and care that we expect from the engineers building autonomous systems. - MIT Technology Review: [Article on Waymo's Virtual Testing](https://lnkd.in/gKnXrvVp) , Will Knight has brought important insider's viewpoints to the conversation around transparency in AV development - Gadgets 360: [Waymo Trains and Tests Its Autonomous Vehicles](https://lnkd.in/g9GnFf44) - Autonomous Vehicle International: [Waymo's SimulationCity AD Evaluation Tool](https://lnkd.in/gMmKr8-q) #waymo

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Reflections on my first-ever self-driving Uber (Waymo) experience... When I told my family and friends about my first Waymo, autonomous vehicle experience, I was surprised by the reactions. "You are so brave." "Weren't you scared?" "I have driven in SF, that is insane." "I never even knew that was a thing." "That sounds so risky." "Only in California." I reacted by saying that these cars were all over the city, and they seemed very safe, reliable, and even cool. Most importantly, they really seemed to work. In fact, I recall watching people exit the vehicles, and they all looked happy, excited, and really glad they took the risk. I began to reflect on how this experience equates to pharmaceutical companies first choosing to use Mobile Locker over the safer, more comfortable, and more visible choice(s). After all, the small, lesser-known experience is a bit riskier, right? But in the end, it turns out we, too, are "all over the city," with nearly 60 satisfied pharma/med device clients. And yes, I think most would say we are safe, reliable, and...(well, okay, maybe not necessarily cool.) Finally, most every one of our clients is happy, excited, and really glad that they took the risk. Why...because Mobile Locker really works. So if you are seeking to provide more impact and value to your field and to the HCPs you are targeting with your digital messaging... Consider riding with us here at Mobile Locker. #pharmaindustry #meddevices #hcpengagement

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Recently I had the pleasure of joining the Lucid Motors team at their Bay Area HQ to bring our teams together and review current programs in flight and planned. For those of you not familiar with the company, #Lucid originally started as a #EV battery manufacture that - like so many other startup companies - jumped in the pool to build full vehicles. Their journey as now evolved into a multiple vehicle portfolio, with the release of the luxury segment Gravity SUV and a multi-tier Lucid Air Touring sedan offering. From Autoweek regarding the Air model tour that will compete vs the Tesla Model 3 in the mid-sedan segment: "This Lucid Air Touring sits below the flagship Sapphire and Grand Touring and boasts 620 hp from its twin-motor layout. The folks at Lucid say this combination is good enough for zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a 140-mph top speed, all while weighing two and a half tons." The team is excited for Lucid and where its portfolio is heading. Learn more about Gravity here: https://lnkd.in/gYdPF98U (sharp) Thank you Lucid + SAP team! Harrison Fletcher | Amir Bonakdar | Kate Rivera | Jim. T #Automotive #LifeAtSAP #BEV #markettrends #market

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Revolutionizing LA's Streets: Waymo's Autonomous Leap Forward As an enthusiastic follower of autonomous vehicle technology, I have been eager to see its launch and evolution across the LA landscape. I have been closely following the driverless ride-hailing space and mind-blowing advances for some time. I’ve even been fortunate enough to experience several test rides firsthand already. It is difficult to describe the smile you'll have the minute your car pulls up and you get in. You'll surprisingly adjust within minutes and be amazed looking at the self moving steering wheel. I recently gained insight around Waymo's path to rolling out full commercial services locally, something i've been eagerly following. They have been dynamically testing unfared vehicles in designated LA zones under CPUC and DMV supervision since January 2023. During this test phase, they’ve offered free rides to vetted participants like those with access passes. The expanded authorization on January 11, 2024 from the DMV allows Waymo to test vehicles across wider swaths of metro LA including Santa Monica and Hawthorne. Waymo has now filed a request with the CPUC on January 19, 2023 to offer rides for payment in those expanded domains. Get yourself on the waitlist. The full filing linked here provides their updated Passenger Safety Plan submitted as part of seeking CPUC approval to finally charge fares across newly accessible areas. This is likely to go quickly and I anticipate they'll be charging for rides by the end of March. https://lnkd.in/gFheDBHi I’m hopeful these geo-targeted robo-taxis can someday tame parking nightmares, reduce accidents and traffic jams while connecting communities across our sprawl. Waymo seems to share local leaders’ care for mindful integration. As LA prepares for the 2028 Olympic spotlight on reviving transit, I eagerly anticipate the role innovators like Waymo might play in continuing momentum. LA residents can learn more about the technology powering this futuristic rideshare at a Waymo pop-up tour event on January 24th from 12-4PM at Silver Lake's trendy Erewhon Market. Some areas listed include: Los Angeles (City and County) Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Monica Hawthorne, El Segundo, Inglewood, Gardena, Vernon, Compton Road Types: Freeways, highways, city streets, rural roads and Parking lots Speed Limits: Waymo's ODD includes roads with posted speed limits up to 65 mph Here is a video of the depot where many of the Waymo cars are stored here in LA.

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Thanks Alan Jenn and Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis for the insightful research on the state of public EV charging. We agree that "charging anxiety" has replaced "range anxiety" as the largest consumer hurdle to mainstream EV adoption. 📝 Most notably, the ITS found "nearly 30% of charge attempts have failed, for reasons including congestion at chargers, damaged chargers, difficulty finding charging stations with apps and faulty performance by the charger." 💡 We would add to this list of failure reasons: User interface / experience issues, software glitches, and failed payment transactions across multiple mobile apps and credit card readers. ChargeHub backs this up in finding just 59% of public charging sessions were successful and seamless in North America over the past 18 months. https://lnkd.in/g-WTvdMy 📝 Jenn's article also states, "While many charging point operators report high uptime percentages, their figures often exclude factors such as slow charging speeds or incomplete charges that degrade users' experience." 💡 Yes, well said! But to clarify, network or station uptime is an operational metric -- i.e., how many days of the year charging stations are online and able to charge cars / 365 days. Our industry also needs a way to measure and manage charging success rate -- i.e., how many EV drivers successfully started a charge on their first or second try / total attempts to charge. 🚘 🔌 This is why Brian Lange and I started ChargeMate: To save the driver's charge and help providers of critical EV infrastructure become profitable. If this speaks to you, please get in touch --> [email protected]. #electricvehicles #evcharging #charginganxiety #chargemate

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Exciting Adventures and Tech Discoveries with Waymo Every summer, I visit my sister in California, and we typically explore the beaches, trails, valleys, mountains, and other scenic spots. This time, we decided to dive deeper into the heart of San Francisco, where we stumbled upon a Waymo driverless car. Without missing a beat, we decided to experience it firsthand. Flashback to a few years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was preparing for a Machine Learning certificate course and immersing myself in every video by the renowned AI/ML guru Andrew Ng. One of his YouTube videos segued into autonomous cars and the feedback loops used to train and improve these models. That was the moment I became a believer in this technology and its potential to drive new innovations. From the early days of large computers mounted on vans to the millions of Teslas on the road today, the progress has been astounding. Experiencing Waymo's driverless car was a revelation. It's not just a tech marvel; it's a user-centric innovation. From the seamless booking process to the constant updates inside the car, and the personalized touch of displaying my initials "SC" when the car arrived, every detail was meticulously crafted to enhance passenger comfort. The price point was comparable to Uber, which was another pleasant surprise. Ultimately, the success of any product hinges on User Experience, Cost, and Accessibility. Waymo has built a competitive product that I believe will see massive adoption, potentially paving the way for more competitors in this space. My 10-year-old son asked, "When is it coming to West Chester?" That question sums it up perfectly. Here's hoping to see autonomous cars in West Chester, Philly, Palakkad, and everywhere else soon! #Innovation #Technology #AI #AutonomousVehicles #Waymo #UserExperience #FutureOfTransport

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This is exciting news, and will be great to for the many people with disabilities who prefer driverless cars to traditional taxis or Ubers. As for wheelchair users, did you know that Waymo offers free WAV rides within the city of SF? Waymo continues to explore options for developing wheelchair accessible, driverless technology but, since no accessible WAV is on the road yet, they're offering free WAV rides to wheelchair users within the SF City limits. WAV rides are provided by an outside contractor specializing in accessible transportation. This acknowledgment - that wheelchair users are consumers, and that they have similar transportation needs to those of any other consumers - is only one of the reasons ILRCSF continues to work closely with Waymo and places great value in this relationship. As far as we know, Waymo is the ONLY developer of driverless technology offering an option to consumers for whom their main service is not yet accessible - and they're offering it free of charge. They're not offering this because we demanded it, either: it was already a done deal by the time Waymo first reached out to ILRCSF to ask for our help in finding people with disabilities who wanted to talk about what they were looking for in a driverless car. If you're a wheelchair or scooter user and you're interested in having access to Waymo's free WAV service within the SF City limits, all you have to do is download the Waymo app, set the accessibility options for WAV rides, and then proceed just as you would with any other rideshare app. A number of ILRCSF staff and several of our good friends have been making use of this service for a while and we've had only positive feedback. In fact, ILRCSF's DAS-funded Nick Feldman Wheelchair Repair Program uses this service to provide safe, accessible rides for both our technician and our consumers. Waymo Rachel Kamen Liz Henry #autonomousdriving #accessibility #disabilityrights #inclusion

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Caltrain plans to introduce bi-level dual electric and battery-powered train to extend its zero-emission service. These trains will charge their batteries in electrified zones between San Francisco and San Jose and use the stored power for non-electrified segments, such as the extensions to Gilroy. This is the next step in battery-operated vehicles for mass transportation, towards sustainable and eco-friendly transit solutions.#sustainability #transportation

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DRIVERLESS CARS AS NEW SAN FRANCISCO TOURIST ATTRACTION: Story below describes rising interest in “robotaxi” rides as part of the San Francisco tourism experience, with popular pick-up spots being well-known tourist attractions such as the Ferry Building, Pier 39, Coit Tower and Japanese Peace Plaza. Riders (Waymo is the provider described) utilize a proprietary app to unlock the car upon arrival and to play music during the ride, with remote customer support monitoring for any unsafe activity and/or needed rider assistance. While the time of widespread AV deployment remains unknown, this much is certain: Developers are logging valuable development miles, and with that activity and visibility, consumer interest will continue to increase.  #autonomousvehicles #emergingissues #insuranceindustry

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Can you imagine the potential of autonomous vehicles once they conquer such edge cases in testing? Think about it—when AVs can seamlessly navigate all the unpredictable, complex situations on the road, the possibilities are endless! Imagine these smart vehicles not only coexisting but collaborating with everything from high-speed personal mobility devices, motorcycles, to pedestrians and cyclists in Singapore. Sebastian Yee, time to upgrade your bicycle test with these mono-wheelers and put forth a new test condition on autonomous vehicles 🚴‍♂️🛴🚍🦿🦾🤖

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I've got a fun Aloha Friday challenge. Do you want a free flight to Hawaii to join the first-ever #HonoluluTechWeek? I am looking for 1-2 more #speakers to discuss one of the two topics below and I will fly you out to Hawaii. The big bonus is if you REFER a thought leader who can join a panel, Michael B. and I will FLY YOU OUT to join the festivities as well! https://lnkd.in/ghWdZ4Ha Topics I will be leading conversations on that I am looking for 1-2 more speakers to join: - "#FounderMentalHealth and Building Teams to Sustain the Long Haul of Startups" - "Breaking into the world of #AI and #Tech"

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My post RAPID + TCT reflections #2 Amidst existential challenges, the #AM industry is also poised to play a pivotal role of onshoring and defense at this critical juncture! 🚀 Recently, I had the good fortune to host our defense partner John B., CEO of KVG at our headquarters in Ventura California. We toured our manufacturing facility (where all of our systems are assembled) and discussed many topics including the recent DoD Appropriations Act, 2025 centered on funding for additive manufacturing and onshoring to bolster national security, strengthen supply chains, and drive down digital manufacturing advancements. The action plan for standing up defense-critical supply chains is afoot and shaping the future landscape by emphasizing resilience in developing vital manufacturing infrastructure including castings, machining and forging. At Nexa3D we are proud to partner with KVG to support this call to action for defense and onshoring. Together, we are committed to strengthening supply chains, and advancing #digitalmanufacturing capabilities to safeguard our nation's future. With a growing footprint in defense logistics and digital manufacturing, the possibilities are endless as we already GM our efforts towards this common goal! 💪🔬🛠️ #AdditiveManufacturing #DefenseInnovation #OnshoringStrategy #Nexa3D #KVG #ManufacturingTransformation #NationalSecurity #SupplyChainResilience #InnovationLeadership #madeinamerica #jobcreation Image courtesy of KVG 👇

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Great story from Fred Grier, Business San Diego, covering the progress of Xiaodi Hou at Bot Auto, and former Founder of TuSimple. Xiaodi Hou, we look forward to your impact on building resilient supply chains in Texas and the nation. Great quote: “We came to Texas because we feel that we need the technology team to be very close to the day-to-day operation of the trucks, . . . it was clear that Texas is the leader in autonomous trucking and is also home to some of the most central freight routes in the U.S., including the I-45 corridor." Texas is leading with autonomous systems deployments - shuttles, cars, trucks, vans, rovers, drones, lawnmowers, construction, . . . . National sovereignty and global productivity will go to the nation that deploys the INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE enabling Industry 4.0 - impacting the $100 trillion physical world: https://lnkd.in/exXzcJSt Logistics moves the world, and INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE (the foundation of ARPA-I) will refactor the North American Supply Chain - Canada - USA - Texas - Mexico. Texas is executing large-scale Intelligent Infrastructure deployments to Build a Stronger and More Connected Texas, the State of the Future.  https://lnkd.in/gCiDhbzk The Federal Infrastructure Bank and infrastructure investors are mobilizing $billions in private capital to underwrite Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zones, which is revitalizing infrastructure in the United States. https://lnkd.in/gWnJD877 Building the Infrastructure for the Next 100 Years. Autonomy Institute https://lnkd.in/gK4-J8qF #infrastructure  #future #supplychains #autonomous #autonomy #transportation  #arpa-i #arpax  #jobs  #bank  #digital  #innovation  #data  #people  #visionzero  #continuumofcapital  #dataexchange  #partnerships  #digitaltwin #privacy #investment #p3programs

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A couple of weeks ago a journalist at our national broadcaster did a long piece on driverless taxis in San Francisco. While the piece played up on peoples' fears and asked if you'd feel safe in one, they never provided any safety data comparing driverless vehicles to those driven by people. I managed to reach them on Twitter and here's is what they said: "I agree that data is important. Unfortunately, there are no independent studies available. The only data is provided by robotaxis operators. One example from Waymo here (below)." I can't say how accurate these Waymo numbers are but they certainly sound impressive. I'm left with two questions. 1) If the driverless car operators' number are this good why don't they provide complete open access to their live numbers with independent researchers/journalists? 2) I'd be curious to know the number of accidents that are seen for every mile or hour of driving that have been recorded for human driven vehicles. And specifically, how do these numbers compare with those of the operators' claims. Insurance companies must have this information and feel more or less confident on insuring driverless car companies vs. people. At some point, if the driverless cars are truly that much better this should become a simple decision. https://lnkd.in/g6g3PqCa

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Disturbance in the Force: "Intercept Games (Take Two). Highlighting: "On April 16th, Take-Two announced a cost reduction program to identify efficiencies across its business and to enhance the Company's margin profile, while still investing for growth. As part of these efforts, the Company is rationalizing its pipeline and eliminating several projects in development and streamlining its organizational structure, which will eliminate headcount and reduce future hiring needs. The Company is not providing additional details on this program," reads the statement." ----- Game Developer: "Update: Take-Two confirms Kerbal Space Program 2 is safe despite Seattle layoffs. Despite those assurances, fresh reports indicate developer Intercept Games is being shut down." (Chris Kerr) (May 1, 2024) "Update (05/02/24): Bloomberg is reporting that Take-Two intends to shut down Intercept Games. Although Take-Two wouldn't disclose how the studio has been impacted by the 70 layoffs in Seattle, where Intercept is located, documentation reviewed by Bloomberg indicates the studio will be shuttered. Take-Two had already told Game Developer it will continue to make updates to Kerbal Space Program 2. Original story: Take-Two is laying off 70 people in Seattle as part of an ongoing cost-reduction program. The publisher is currently attempting to reduce its headcount by 5 percent to enhance its "margin profile while still investing for growth." It announced those layoffs just weeks after spending $460 million acquiring Gearbox from Embracer. A WARN notice filed in Washington shows the company will be laying off 70 workers in Seattle as part of a "closure" on June 28, 2024. The notice, which ensures impacted workers are notified 60 days before they're laid off, simply lists the impacted company as 'Take-Two.' A number of onlookers on social media have pointed out that Take-Two-owned Kerbal Space Program developer Intercept Games is based in Seattle, raising concerns about the future of the studio. Private Division still supporting Kerbal Space Program 2 When approached for comment by Game Developer, Take-Two wouldn't confirm whether Intercept Games has been impacted by the cuts—despite multiple Kerbal Space Program developers indicating they recently left the studio, with one expressly stating they were "laid off." A company spokesperson did, however, explain that its Private Division publishing label will continue to support Kerbal Space Program 2. When pushed again on the current status of Intercept Games, Take-Two told Game Developer is has "nothing further to note." GameDeveloper: https://lnkd.in/gM6K6w8W #gameindustry #gamelayoffs #disturbanceintheforce #taketwo

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