通往完全自动驾驶之路（英文版）_41页_7mb

Waymo Fully Self-Driving Technology Safety Report Summary

Core Content

Waymo is dedicated to building fully self-driving vehicles that improve road safety and mobility for millions of people. The report outlines the company's comprehensive safety program, testing methods, and technological approach to ensure that self-driving vehicles can operate safely in various conditions.

Main Points

• Safety as a Priority: Waymo was founded with safety as its core mission. The company believes that fully self-driving technology can significantly reduce traffic fatalities, which are largely caused by human error.
• Global Impact: Over 1.2 million people die worldwide due to traffic crashes each year, with 94% involving human error. The economic and social costs are substantial, including billions in injuries and economic losses.
• Technology Promise: Self-driving vehicles can offer new mobility options to people who cannot drive, such as the elderly and visually impaired, and reduce the time and fuel wasted in traffic.

Key Information

1. System Safety Program: Safety by Design

• Overview: Waymo's System Safety Program is a comprehensive approach that integrates safety into every stage of development, from design to testing and validation.
• Safety Areas: The program addresses five key safety areas:
  • Behavioral Safety: Ensuring the vehicle behaves safely in line with traffic rules.
  • Functional Safety: Building in redundancies and backup systems to handle system failures.
  • Crash Safety: Complying with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to protect passengers in the event of a crash.
  • Operational Safety: Ensuring safe and comfortable interaction with passengers.
  • Non-Collision Safety: Addressing physical safety for all individuals interacting with the vehicle, including bystanders and first responders.

2. How Waymo's Self-Driving Vehicles Work

• Self-Driving System: Designed to operate without a human driver, it includes software and hardware that perform all driving functions.
• SAE Level 4: Waymo's technology is classified as Level 4, meaning it can operate autonomously in defined conditions and bring the vehicle to a safe stop if a failure occurs.
• Sensor Suite: Waymo uses a multi-layered sensor system including:
  • LiDAR: Three types of LiDAR for 360-degree vision.
  • Vision (Camera): High-resolution cameras with 360-degree field of view.
  • Radar: Effective in adverse weather conditions.
  • Supplemental Sensors: Including audio detection and GPS.

3. Testing and Validation Methods

• Testing Areas: Waymo tests on public roads, closed courses, and in simulated environments.
• Testing Focus: Includes:
  • Base Vehicle Safety: Ensuring the vehicle meets all safety standards.
  • Behavioral Competencies: Testing how the vehicle behaves in normal driving scenarios.
  • Crash Avoidance: Simulating and testing for potential collision scenarios.
  • Hardware and Software Reliability: Ensuring the system can handle failures and maintain safety.

4. Interacting Safely with the Public

• Rider Experience: Waymo focuses on creating a safe and comfortable experience for passengers.
• Accessibility: The technology aims to provide mobility to those who cannot drive, such as the elderly and visually impaired.
• Emergency Response: Vehicles are designed to interact safely with law enforcement and first responders.

5. Minimal Risk Condition (Fallback)

• Definition: A "minimal risk condition" is a safe stop the vehicle can perform if the system fails or encounters complex situations.
• Redundant Systems: Waymo includes backup systems for computing, power, braking, steering, and collision detection to ensure safe fallback procedures.

Conclusion

Waymo's fully self-driving technology is built with safety at its core. The company has invested heavily in developing a robust safety framework, extensive testing, and advanced sensor and software systems to ensure that its vehicles can operate safely in diverse environments. The report highlights the progress made through over 3.5 million miles of real-world driving and billions of miles of simulation, and outlines the path to achieving broader operational design domains and public acceptance.

Appendices and Glossary

• Appendix A: Basic Behavioral Competency Testing.
• Appendix B: Avoidance or Mitigation of Common Crash Scenarios.
• Glossary: Provides definitions for key terms used in the report, such as "operational design domain" and "minimal risk condition."