Waymo is one of those companies that continue to explore this particular field of autonomous cars. It is a subsidiary of Google (Alphabet rather) that has spent years developing technologies of this type and that have a driverless taxi service in some parts of the United States. Now they announce what is their fifth generation of autonomous cars, which release technologies to be even more advanced and safe than ever.
The Jaguar I-Pace has been the vehicle chosen by Waymo to expand its fleet, since they ordered no less than 20,000 units of the first electric of the British brand. They look somewhat different because they introduce a new set of sensors to enhance their capabilities. The first has been the new 360º LIDAR, which is capable of generating a 3D image of the entire environment and which has a range of 300 meters. It is a key system to identify other cars, cyclists or pedestrians regardless of the light conditions.
To this new LIDAR are added another four perimeters, which are placed in the corners of the vehicle (front and rear wheel arches) to complete the viewing angle and improve resolution at short range. Cameras are also protagonists in these fifth-generation freelancers from Waymo. Thanks to new long-range cameras and the 360-vision system, it is able to identify pedestrians and signs more than 500 meters away.
There are new systems for perimeter vision (to better identify objects) and peripheral vision (to reduce blind spots caused by other vehicles). The Jaguar I-Pace are completed with radars, which are responsible for the measurement of the speed and trajectory of other objects even with adverse weather conditions. The new generation of Waymo are also capable of seeing objects at great distances, increasing the available reaction time.