Waymo Deploys Driverless Fleet on Public Roads via Custom Sensors

Waymo 360° Experience: A Fully Autonomous Driving Journey — Waymo

Waymo

Waymo fuses custom sensor data with millions of miles of driving experience to predict road hazards three football fields away and make driverless rides feel entirely ordinary.

AI-assisted summary of Waymo 360° Experience: A Fully Autonomous Driving Journey — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Originating from Google's 2009 self-driving initiative, Waymo deploys proprietary, custom-built hardware rather than off-the-shelf automotive parts on public roads. (0:08)
  • The vehicle's sensor suite fuses LiDAR, radar, and cameras to maintain a 360-degree field of view tracking obstacles up to three football fields away. (1:00)
  • Behavioral prediction models trained on millions of real-world miles allow the car to anticipate movements of pedestrians and cyclists and provide safe passing clearance. (1:00)
  • The driverless passenger cabin features an empty front seat and real-time visualization screens, engineered to make advanced autonomous transit feel routine and ordinary. (2:21)

Detailed notes

## Background Published by Waymo on YouTube on February 28, 2018, this 360-degree interactive video invites viewers into an autonomous journey built from real-world footage and telemetry. The description highlights Waymo's evolution from the 2009 Google self-driving car project into a fleet operating on public roads, offering an immersive look through the vehicle's perception system.

## TL;DR The video outlines how Waymo's custom-built autonomous technology safely navigates public roads using an integrated suite of LiDAR, radar, and high-resolution cameras. Incoming sensor data is fused in real time to locate the car, track obstacles up to three football fields away, and predict the actions of nearby pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. Powered by millions of miles of real-world driving experience, the system prioritizes passenger comfort and external safety before transitioning viewers inside the cabin, where an empty driver's seat and real-time visualization displays demonstrate how advanced computation transforms an extraordinary ride into a calm, ordinary journey.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries a calm, assured, and technologically sophisticated tone, guided by a steady and welcoming narration that demystifies futuristic engineering. Visually and experientially, watching the steering wheel turn on its own while layered 360-degree point clouds map surrounding streets evokes a sense of quiet wonder and safety. The progression moves smoothly from intricate data visualization to a serene cabin interior, purposefully reassuring viewers that riding without a human driver is smooth, relaxing, and entirely normal.

## Bulletin - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) Originating from Google's 2009 self-driving initiative, Waymo deploys proprietary, custom-built hardware rather than off-the-shelf automotive parts on public roads. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) The vehicle's sensor suite fuses LiDAR, radar, and cameras to maintain a 360-degree field of view tracking obstacles up to three football fields away. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Behavioral prediction models trained on millions of real-world miles allow the car to anticipate movements of pedestrians and cyclists and provide safe passing clearance. - [02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) The driverless passenger cabin features an empty front seat and real-time visualization screens, engineered to make advanced autonomous transit feel routine and ordinary.

## Key takeaways - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) Waymo began development as the Google self-driving car project in 2009 before launching fully autonomous public fleet operations. - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) The autonomous platform relies on proprietary hardware built from the ground up rather than third-party automotive equipment. - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) LiDAR sensors emit millions of laser pulses every second to build a detailed 3D spatial representation of the surrounding environment. - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) Onboard radar directly calculates the distance and instantaneous velocity of surrounding objects. - [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) High-resolution cameras capture essential visual context that laser sensors miss, such as distinguishing traffic signal states. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Sensor data is fused within a fraction of a second to continuously calculate vehicle lane placement and orientation. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Waymo's perception stack identifies and tracks objects across a 360-degree perimeter extending up to three football fields away. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) The system continuously computes predictive behavioral models for nearby vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Operational decision-making is reinforced by millions of autonomous miles driven across real-world urban streetscapes. - [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Path planning prioritizes passenger comfort and provides sufficient buffer space to ensure surrounding road users feel safe and at ease. - [02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) The passenger cabin operates without a human driver present, featuring an autonomously rotating steering wheel and an empty driver's seat. - [02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) In-cabin passenger displays stream real-time visual representations of the route and detected road entities. - [02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) Waymo's core design goal is to deliver an uneventful journey where complex perception and planning make an extraordinary ride feel ordinary.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=8s) The Origins of Waymo and the Sensor Suite

Waymo traces its roots back to 2009, when the team initially began developing self-driving vehicles as the Google self-driving car project. Today operating independently under the name Waymo, the company deploys fully autonomous vehicles directly onto public roads. The narrator explains that the system does not rely on off-the-shelf automotive parts, noting that “They use a range of technology we've built from the ground up to understand the world around them and get you where you need to go.” Viewers are invited into the interactive 360-degree perspective to observe firsthand how the autonomous hardware maps and navigates complex environments.

The vehicle’s perception system relies on three complementary sensor technologies working simultaneously to capture an uninterrupted 360-degree field of view: - **LiDAR:** Emits millions of laser beams every second to generate a comprehensive, highly detailed three-dimensional spatial representation of surrounding surroundings. - **Radar:** Measures the exact distance to surrounding objects as well as their instantaneous velocity. - **High-Resolution Cameras:** Captures visual details in the driving environment that light sensors cannot interpret alone, such as determining whether a traffic light is red or green.

[01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Real-Time Perception, Prediction, and Experience

```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Waymo Autonomous Decision Pipeline accDescr: Sensor inputs feed into real-time fusion and prediction before calculating vehicle navigation.

subgraph SENSORS["Perception Sensors"] L["LiDAR"] R["Radar"] C["Cameras"] end

subgraph PROCESSING["Sense & Predict"] F["Data Fusion & Localization"] P["Behavior Prediction<br/>(Up to 3 Football Fields)"] end

subgraph ACTION["Control"] Plan["Path Planning & Comfort"] end

L --> F R --> F C --> F F --> P P --> Plan ```

Once raw sensor streams are captured, the vehicle fuses all incoming data within a fraction of a second to pinpoint its precise lane position and orientation. Beyond merely recognizing objects directly visible to human eyes, the vehicle’s sensor suite detects and monitors obstacles up to three football fields away in every direction. The system identifies surrounding actors—including cars, cyclists, and pedestrians—and continuously calculates probabilistic models of what each entity might do next.

Underpinning this rapid sensory calculation is extensive real-world exposure. The narrator emphasizes the role of historical learning in handling unpredictability, observing that “What makes everything you can see right now possible is experience.” Having logged millions of autonomous miles across complicated urban streetscapes, the system learns from every single mile driven. In a live driving scenario, the system demonstrates this balance of caution and spatial awareness by carving out ample clearance for an adjacent bicyclist to pedal past while simultaneously tracking a pedestrian walking along the sidewalk. The narrator points out that “And when it comes to making decisions, this is a good example of how Waymo doesn't just take into account your safety, it also makes sure that both you, and the people around you feel secure and at ease.”

[02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) Stepping Inside: The Fully Autonomous Passenger Experience

Transitioning from the technical data feed to the passenger cabin, the tour invites the viewer to experience the interior of a fully driverless vehicle. The cabin provides immediately noticeable visual contrasts to conventional motoring: the steering wheel turns autonomously, and the driver’s seat is entirely vacant. In place of a human chauffeur, passenger-facing display screens render an intuitive, real-time visualization of what the vehicle’s sensors detect along the planned travel route.

Despite the novelty of an empty front seat, the vehicle is calibrated to deliver a smooth and conventional ride quality. The goal of the engineering stack is not to draw attention to itself, but to fade seamlessly into the background. As the narrator summarizes, “All this technology, which allows Waymo to see, identify, predict and plan should make an extraordinary ride feel completely ordinary.” Ultimately, the complex real-time computation exists to provide an uneventful journey from point A to point B, leaving riders free to simply sit back, unwind, and enjoy the travel experience.

## Notable quotes > [02:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=141s) All this technology, which allows Waymo to see, identify, predict and plan should make an extraordinary ride feel completely ordinary. — Narrator

> [01:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw&t=60s) Waymo doesn't just take into account your safety, it also makes sure that both you, and the people around you feel secure and at ease. — Narrator

## Mentioned Waymo, Google, Google self-driving car project, Waymo Driver, YouTube, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream View, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook

## Video description Waymo began as the Google self-driving car project in 2009. Today, we have the world’s only fleet equipped with fully autonomous-driving cars on public roads. Step into our 360° video and take control of the camera to see through the “eyes” of our car. Then, be one of the first in the world to take a ride with Waymo.

This film was built using footage and real-time data from an actual trip on city streets. Learn more about how it was made: https://medium.com/waymo/recreating-the-self-driving-experience-the-making-of-the-waymo-360-37a80466af49

Here’s how to explore the video in 360°: - On mobile, move your phone around to explore in all directions. - On desktop, use your mouse to drag the video around your screen. - If you have Cardboard, tap the Cardboard icon in the bottom right of the YouTube player, insert your phone into Cardboard, and look around. If you have Google Daydream View, just place your phone into the headset.

About Waymo: Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to move around. With the Waymo Driver, we can improve the world’s mobility while saving thousands of lives.

Connect with Waymo: We're hiring: https://waymo.com/joinus/ Follow Waymo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/waymo Follow Waymo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waymo Follow Waymo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waymo Like Waymo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Waymo/

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8R148hFxPw)

中文简报

Waymo依托定制传感器在公共道路部署无人驾驶车队 Waymo将定制传感器数据与数百万英里的驾驶经验相结合，可预测三个足球场外的道路危险，使无人驾驶乘车体验变得十分平常。 该视频概述了Waymo如何利用包含激光雷达、雷达和高分辨率摄像头的集成套件，依托定制研发的自动驾驶技术在公共道路上安全行驶。系统对传入的传感器数据进行实时融合，以完成车辆定位、追踪最远达三个足球场外的障碍物，并预测周围行人、骑行者和车辆的动作。在数百万英里真实世界驾驶经验的依托下，该系统兼顾乘客舒适度与外部安全；视频随后将视线转向车内，空置的驾驶座与实时可视化显示屏展现出先进的计算能力如何将一次非同寻常的乘坐体验转变为平静、日常的旅程。 Waymo起源于Google 2009年的自动驾驶项目，在公共道路上部署的是专有定制硬件，而非现成的汽车零部件。 (0:08) 该车辆的传感器套件融合了激光雷达、雷达与摄像头，保持360度视野，可追踪最远达三个足球场外的障碍物。 (1:00) 基于数百万英里真实行驶数据训练的行为预测模型，使车辆能够预判行人及骑行者的动向，并留出安全的超车间距。 (1:00) 无人驾驶客舱配有空置的前排驾驶座和实时可视化屏幕，旨在让先进的自动驾驶出行体验变得如同日常出行般自然。 (2:21)

Source quotes

[2:21] Narrator: All this technology, which allows Waymo to see, identify, predict and plan should make an extraordinary ride feel completely ordinary. [1:00] Narrator: Waymo doesn't just take into account your safety, it also makes sure that both you, and the people around you feel secure and at ease.

Original transcript

[0:08] Back in 2009, in our early days at Google, we started working on self-driving cars. [0:15] Today, we're called Waymo and our fully self-driving cars are on the road. [0:20] They use a range of technology we've built from the ground up [0:23] to understand the world around them and get you where you need to go. [0:28] You're about to see how it all works, and what it feels like to ride in our car. [0:37] As it drives, Waymo uses LiDAR which sends out millions of laser beams per second [0:42] to build up a detailed picture of the world all 360 degrees around it. [0:47] It also uses radar to detect how far away objects are and their speed. [0:53] And high-resolution cameras detect visual information like whether a traffic signal is red or green. [1:00] It then combines all that data to understand the world around it. [1:04] For example, in this fraction of a second, it knows exactly where it is on the road. [1:11] It can also identify everything around it in full 360 degrees. [1:19] And then predict what those things might do next. [1:24] And it doesn't just do that for the objects you and I can see. [1:28] It can do that for things up to three football fields away. [1:34] What makes everything you can see right now possible is experience. [1:38] Waymo has already self-driven millions of miles on complicated city streets [1:43] and it's constantly learning from every single mile it drives. [1:50] With all that knowledge, it can plan a safe path ahead. [1:54] In this instance, giving that cyclist enough room to cycle past us [1:59] and also looking out for that pedestrian on the sidewalk [2:06] And when it comes to making decisions, this is a good example [2:10] of how Waymo doesn't just take into account your safety, [2:13] it also makes sure that both you, and the people around you feel secure and at ease. [2:21] So now that you know how Waymo works, it's time to take your first ride in one of our cars. [2:29] Take a look around. [2:31] You're now riding in a fully self-driving car. [2:34] Some things might immediately stand out. [2:37] The fact that there's no one in the driver's seat, no one turning the wheel. [2:41] And the screens, which show you what the car is seeing and the route it's taking. [2:45] But you might also notice that the ride feels a lot like being driven in a regular car. [2:51] And that's the way it should feel. [2:53] All this technology, which allows Waymo to see, identify, predict and plan [2:58] should make an extraordinary ride feel completely ordinary. [3:02] And create a very normal journey that simply gets you from A to B safe and sound. [3:08] And while it does all that, all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.