This is what it’s like to drive a self-driving taxi

It works like any other taxithat you can smartphones You can call. You invite the corresponding App and log in. Then you simply state where you are going and the car is on its way to you.

This is how the service works Waymo of Google parent company AlphabetThe only difference to other taxis: There is no driver. The car that turns the corner is completely empty, the steering wheel and pedals move by themselves.

Because this is a self-driving carWaymo now offers its services in several cities in the USA. I was in San Francisco traveling with the robot taxi.

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No driver

While the ordering process is not particularly exciting, the same cannot be said for the arrival of the taxi. It is simply cool to see a car driving around the corner with nobody at the wheel sits. The electric Jaguar I-PACE equipped with all kinds of sensors. In addition to cameras, these also include several radar and LIDAR sensorsso a kind of Laser radar. It is also noteworthy that the car has Rearview mirror Has features that the self-driving system probably doesn't actually need.

Where I am waiting for the robot taxi, there happens to be a Parking space free. It is not huge, but it must be easy for a self-driving car to park perfectly, I think to myself. The computer can measure the distances in a fraction of a second, calculate the right angle and turn the steering wheel as far as necessary. But that is exactly does not make the Waymo taxiIt approaches the gap with determination and steers in that direction, but then decides not to drive completely into the gap. Instead, it drives into the parking space with only one tire width and stops.

The action certainly works not calculated at lightning speed and planned, but actually quickly human. You can imagine how a driver sees the gap, first plans to park directly in it, but then spontaneously decides that it is too narrow and instead moves as far to the side as possible. “It's OK” The robot taxi probably thought the same thing this autumn.

Inside, the Waymo car basically looks like any other car The driver's side also contains the steering wheel, pedals and all the familiar controls and displays. Admittedly, it does seem a bit spooky when the indicator lights up as if by magic before a bend and the steering wheel moves by itself.

While the parking action was human-like, the further journey is already fast too quietto pass as human. Acceleration, steering and braking maneuvers are extremely smooth. At the same time, they do not look unnatural. You just have the feeling of being with a excellent driver to be on the move.

Also partially surprising situationssuch as vehicles suddenly coming out of exits or people running between parked cars towards the road, were mastered by the self-driving taxi. And here too, the evasive manoeuvres were clearly less hecticthan perhaps a human could have made.

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Inside the Waymo taxis you will find maximum 4 passengers Place. One on the passenger seat and 3 on the back seat. The driver's seat must remain free. For safety reasons, such as Jonathan NgProduct Manager at Waymo, explains to Futurezone. There is a risk that the steering wheel or pedals will be operated while driving. It doesn't even have to be done maliciously, as Ng explains. It is enough if a passenger reflexively steps on the brakes because they think they have to.

In the car itself there are 2 Show Present. One in front, exactly where this usually happens Infotainment system Another is installed in the center console so that you can see it clearly from the back seat. On the screen you can see what the car is currently seeing in the form of a virtual representation of the surroundings. It is amazing to see how roads, lanes and other cars are registered with the help of the numerous sensors all around. If that is too boring for you, you can choose the music you would like to hear directly on the screen.

If you want the car bring to a spontaneous stopyou also tell it this via one of the displays. If you press the button, the car will pull over to the right side of the road at the next opportunity.

Eye contact?

pedestrianwho want to cross the street are rather hesitant when they see the robot car. It seems as if they Eye contact with the missing driver in order to cross the road safely. Waymo will compensate for this lack of communication with a display on the roof of the robot taxis. Symbols for other road users will be shown there depending on the situation. If pedestrians can pass safely, for example, a zebra crossing will be shown there. On the back, a pedestrian symbol will signal to the following driver that the road is currently being crossed.

In order to recognize these signs, you as a passerby or other driver must of course know where to look. Product manager Ng also admits that this still requires a conscientious learning process of the environment. One challenge here in the future could be the fact that there is probably no standardized solution Each self-driving car will also be able to communicate with its surroundings in its own individual way.

Extraordinary picture

The fact that self-driving cars are still in operation in San Francisco not an everyday picture You will notice quite quickly when you are out and about with the Waymo. Many passers-by pull out their smartphonesto take photos or videos.

But the behaviour of other drivers is particularly exciting: they show more conciliatory with the robot than with human road users. So there is no honking when the driver drives very slowly to the side of the road when picking up the vehicle, thereby holding up the oncoming traffic. Or when the defensively driving Waymo lets another vehicle have priority.What's the point of honking or insulting a robot?“, some people probably think. That alone makes the ride very relaxing. And by the way, the Waymo itself didn’t honk.

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Don’t forget your cell phone!

The relatively short journey from San Francisco Pier 1 for the Coit Tower Be sure to try it out for yourself without any major incidents. In terms of price, Waymo is very close to the competition Above and LyftAt the end of each ride, a robot voice reminds you not to forget anything in the self-driving taxi. And the message is particularly urgent: “Pick up your phone now“.