Can Waymo Handle the Snow? - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses Waymo’s efforts to enable its autonomous robotaxis to operate safely and reliably in snowy and winter weather conditions, which have historically posed significant challenges for self-driving technology. While robotaxis have mostly been deployed in snow-free cities, Waymo has been proactively addressing the complexities of winter driving by developing a systematic approach that includes understanding the diverse challenges snow presents, designing adaptable solutions, rigorously validating capabilities, and scaling responsibly. The company has accumulated tens of thousands of miles driving in some of the snowiest U.S. regions, such as Upstate New York and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, allowing its AI to learn from real-world winter conditions ranging from light dustings to whiteouts and icy roads. Waymo’s approach centers on creating a single autonomous system that can perform consistently across varied environments, from foggy San Francisco to snowy Denver. The Waymo Driver integrates multiple sensors—cameras, radar, and lidar—with automated cleaning and heating elements to maintain sensor clarity in inc