Waymo’s sixth-generation AI driver will have a reduced sensor suite.
The fifth-generation Waymo Driver, which drives the existing fleet of Jaguar I-PACE SUVs, has 29 cameras, six radars, and five lidars.
“Basically, we’ve taken our learnings from driving over a hundred million fully autonomous miles to inform our next generation sensor suite,” she said. “So simplified, cost-effective design that’s able to scale to more cities, especially with diverse weather conditions.”
Karp told Business Insider that advancements in sensor technology allow Waymo to reduce the number of sensors.
The new lidar, for example, has “higher density,” or the ability to see further, the spokesperson said.
The sensor suite is also considerably less clunky.
The sensors on the roof of the Jaguars are stacked like a tiered wedding cake. The next-generation sensor suite removes the tier and integrates the 360-degree cameras more seamlessly.
