Waymo Drops Assisted Driving After Testers Found Napping

The head of Google's self-driving unit Waymo said that the company dropped assisted driving in favour of fully autonomous driving, because the hardest part to fix is the one between the seat and the steering wheel.

John Krafcik, head of Waymo, talked about the tests that lead to that decision to Reuters during a media tour of the company's facilities earlier this week. Originally, Waymo envisioned technology that assisted drivers, and could drive autonomously on the highway, but required drivers to jump in for certain situations, much like Tesla's Autopilot, or Cadillac's Super Cruise.

"What we found was pretty scary," Krafcik reportedly said. "It’s hard to take over because they have lost contextual awareness." Imagine if, as a passenger, you were suddenly asked to take control of the car. You're not as aware of the situation around you as you would be if you were in full control of the car. Krafcik said that the company found it unsafe to ask drivers to jump back into driving at the sound of an alert after they watched videos of the testing.

The filmed tests happened in 2013, but the video hadn't been shown publicly prior to yesterday's events. The company found that test drivers were using their phones or putting on makeup at highway speeds. One was even caught napping at the wheel.

A few days after that, the company began to focus only on completely autonomous technology: Level four and level five tech. The company has also argued against the handoff between driver and computer. Get in one of the company's Chrysler Pacifica vans, and the two controls are one to start a ride, and one asking to pull over.

Krafcik wouldn't say when Waymo would expand their ride-hailing pilot beyond the small program running in Phoenix, AZ, but said that it is getting "close." The company is also working on self-driving trucks and transit, as well as partnerships with existing automakers.