> I think people vastly overestimate the challenges of weather conditions for self driving.
This remark makes me wonder if you've ever lived in an area that actually experiences winter.
Around here, dead of winter, there are no lines visible on the streets. Heck, after a good snow storm the lanes are basically a function of group consensus.
This is a situation where automation has the advantage. With detailed position information and detailed maps, the fact that the lines on the street can't be seen is irrelevant. The car didn't need them anyway.
(noting that Waymo requires full detail maps to be able to drive an area, including all signage).
First, it's optimistic to assume that data is accurate and up-to-date.
Second, I can't emphasize my "group consensus" point enough.
Anyone who's driven in real world winter conditions has seen a day where three lane roads turn into two. Or lanes form in the shoulder. It'd be actively dangerous to insist on driving according to the underlying lane markings during those types of road conditions.
Maybe in a world where all cars are autonomous and using map data that could work. In reality it really doesn't.
This remark makes me wonder if you've ever lived in an area that actually experiences winter.
Around here, dead of winter, there are no lines visible on the streets. Heck, after a good snow storm the lanes are basically a function of group consensus.