Waymo is preparing to step up testing of its autonomous technologies by rolling out prototypes onto the snowing streets of Michigan.
Google’s self-driving car division has been cold weather testing since 2012 but it’s Michigan tests will be the first time it’s had to contend with snow, sleet, and ice in busy city streets.
In a blog post published to Medium, Waymo chief executive John Krafcik said bringing prototypes to Michigan will allow it to determine how its sensors perform in the wet and “build on the advanced driving skills we’ve developed over the last eight years by teaching our cars how to handle things like skidding on icy, unplowed roads.”
“For human drivers, the mix of winter conditions affects how well you can see and the way your vehicle handles the road. The same is true for self-driving cars. Our ultimate goal is for our fully self-driving cars to operate safely and smoothly in all kinds of environments,” Krafcik added.
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