Waymo has been granted a temporary permit to map roadways at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), marking a significant step toward commercial robotaxi operations in a key transportation hub. The mapping began on March 14 and allows Waymo employees to manually drive vehicles for this purpose. This permit follows a previous failure to obtain mapping rights and includes requirements for data sharing with authorities to track the vehicles' movements. The phased plan aims to transition from mapping to autonomous testing and eventually commercial use, appealing to the millions of travelers at SFO.
It's a structured process that Waymo follows to ensure they have the proper data and permissions before expanding their operations to new urban environments.
The mapping at SFO is just the beginning, allowing Waymo to eventually provide its services to a significant travel hub used by millions.
Data sharing stipulations included in the permit highlight the city's concern for safety and regulation in allowing autonomous vehicles to operate in public spaces.
This permit marks a significant shift for Waymo, allowing the company back into discussions with city officials after failing to secure mapping permissions previously.
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