Waymo has created a new cognitive system called ReD (Reference Driver) that models human driving behavior to enhance autonomous vehicle safety. Published in Nature, the model simulates how careful human drivers anticipate risks, manage uncertainty, and react to potential conflicts, aiming to improve accident avoidance in robotaxis.
Waymo, an Alphabet-owned robotaxi company, has developed a new computer model called the Reference Driver, in collaboration with TU Delft, to more accurately simulate human driving behavior, especially in crash scenarios. This model, based on active inference theory, aims to provide a realistic benchmark for autonomous driving systems and improve safety evaluations.
A burglar used a Waymo robotaxi for a yoga clothes theft in San Francisco in January. Police were unable to identify the suspect via exterior camera footage, which was blurred for privacy, and account data did not lead to an arrest.
A new study reveals that approximately 44% of Waymo robotaxi miles are driven empty, similar to ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, questioning their potential to reduce traffic congestion.
Uber und das KI-Unternehmen Autobrains wollen in München Robotaxis der Stufe 4 testen. Das Projekt setzt auf eine "OEM-agnostische" Integration in bestehende Serienfahrzeuge statt auf Spezialanfertigungen. Wichtige Details zu Fahrzeugmarke, Betreiber und Startdatum sind noch offen.
Waymo setzt seinen Robotaxi-Dienst in Atlanta und San Antonio wegen überfluteter Straßen aus. Ein Fahrzeug blieb im Wasser stecken, bevor eine Wetterwarnung herausgegeben wurde. Autobahnfahrten in mehreren Städten sind ebenfalls pausiert, während die US-Behörden gegen Waymo wegen Vorfällen wie einem Kind, das angefahren wurde, und einem überholten Schulbus ermitteln.
Waymo hat seinen Robotaxi-Dienst in Atlanta und San Antonio wegen überfluteter Straßen ausgesetzt. Die Software der selbstfahrenden Autos hat Schwierigkeiten, die Wassertiefe zu erkennen. Auch Autobahnfahrten sind in mehreren Städten pausiert.
Waymo has temporarily suspended its robotaxi service on freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami to improve performance in construction zones. The company stated it expects to resume these routes soon.
Guangzhou-based Xpeng plans to launch pilot robotaxi operations in the second half of this year, featuring Level 4 self-driving capabilities powered by its Turing AI chips. The company aims for fully autonomous operations without safety officers by early 2027.
Atlanta residents are complaining about Waymo robotaxis repeatedly circling their cul-de-sac early in the morning. The empty vehicles, sometimes in large numbers, have been observed for weeks, causing disruption and getting stuck when residents try to deter them.
Tesla's Robotaxi service experienced at least two low-speed crashes in Austin, Texas, since July 2025, while being remotely operated, as revealed in newly unredacted NHTSA reports.
Zoox, eine Amazon-Tochter, bietet autonome Fahrzeuge in Las Vegas an, aber mit Einschränkungen im Gegensatz zu Waymo. Die App ist nur in US-App-Stores verfügbar und der Dienst arbeitet stationenbasiert, nicht frei wie Waymo.
Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix software issues that could cause them to drive onto flooded roadways, following incidents in Austin and criticism over safety concerns.
Waymo has issued a software recall that makes its robotaxis more cautious around flooded areas. A "final remedy" is in the works.
Waymo is recalling its autonomous driving software that allowed its vehicles to drive on flooded roads. The recall affects 3,791 vehicles that operate using Waymo's fifth and sixth generation systems. In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Alphabet-owned company said that an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi "encountered an untraversable flooded section of […]
Nuro has received an updated California DMV permit to test Lucid Gravity robotaxis without human operators for Uber. The companies say driverless testing could begin later this year, but commercial rides still need more approvals.
Der Systemausfall bei Baidu, der 100 Robotaxis in Wuhan stilllegte, hat Folgen: Vorerst gibt es keine neuen Lizenzen für autonome Fahrzeuge in China.
China has suspended new licenses for autonomous vehicles following an incident last month in Wuhan where dozens of Baidu robotaxis suddenly stopped in traffic, causing chaos. The restrictions prevent companies from adding new driverless cars to fleets, expanding into new cities, or launching new test projects. It remains unclear when regulators will resume issuing licenses. This is at least the second time regulators have intervened after a Baidu-related incident, and the company's Wuhan operations remain paused while authorities investigate.
Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, is offering ride-hailing services in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Austin with purpose-built robotaxis that feature a unique bidirectional design, corner-mounted sensors, and redundant systems. Unlike competitors retrofitting existing vehicles, Zoox's sci-fi-inspired pods prioritize maneuverability in dense urban areas with unmatched agility.
Lenovo und WeRide haben eine Kooperation zur Skalierung autonomer Fahrsysteme vereinbart. Innerhalb der nächsten fünf Jahre sollen 200.000 Fahrzeuge, darunter Robotaxis, Lieferwagen und Busse, mit dieser Technologie ausgestattet werden.
Tesla hat die Produktion seines fahrerlosen Robotaxis Cybercab gestartet. Während Firmenchef Elon Musk die Marktführerschaft anstrebt, steht das Unternehmen im Vergleich zum Konkurrenten Waymo bei der autonomen Technologie noch am Anfang.
Tesla reported Q1 2026 earnings of $477 million, up 17% year-over-year, with revenue reaching $22.39 billion driven by 16% automotive growth. The company lost its crown as world's largest EV maker to BYD but is pivoting to robotaxis, which doubled miles in Q1, and humanoid robots with planned 10M annual capacity. Capital expenditures surged 67% to $2.5 billion as Musk bets on autonomous driving and Optimus.
Tesla reported Q1 earnings of 41 cents per share, beating Wall Street expectations of 37 cents, but missed revenue projections at $22.39B versus $22.6B expected. The company announced positive free cash flow while its stock rose 3% post-report but erased gains after Musk outlined large capital expenditure plans. Tesla is pivoting from its core auto business toward AI, robotics and robotaxis, with self-driving cars already operating in Texas cities and robotaxi launches planned for Florida and Las Vegas. The company delivered 358,000 vehicles in Q1, falling short of analyst projections, and faces headwinds from competition and the elimination of EV tax credits.
While company reported positive cash flow and earnings of 41 cents a share, its missed its mark on reported revenueTesla reported its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, disclosing better than expected results. The report slightly boosted the company’s share price, which has limped along this year while its CEO, Elon Musk, has tried to sell the company’s new vision of humanoid robots and self-driving robotaxis. Its core car business has struggled in the face of competition from Chinese counterparts and backlash against his close involvement with the Trump administration.“There remains significant effort and hard work to realize our mission of Amazing Abundance,” Tesla said in its report, while claiming that demand for its vehicles was rebounding. Continue reading...
