(cont'd from yesterday's post)
Complete, fully automated self-driving (Level 5) cars are still a remote dream. But Level 4 technology is now in use for "robo taxis."
"A Level 4 self-driving car can handle everything - but only under certain conditions and in certain locations." Robo taxis can and do operate now under these restrictions, partly because a finite area can be mapped right down to the very small details.
General Motors acquired the startup Cruise in 2016 to pursue GM's position in this market, but they announced last month their intention to kill off the robo taxi idea.
Tesla (photo) is still very much pursuing the goal. It's called Cybercab: "affordable and fast individualized point-to-point transport" that they claim will also be safe and sustainable.
Waymo (yesterday's video) is the most successful so far, operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, with plans for Atlanta, Miami and Austin.
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