Waymo Is Testing Driverless Cars In Minnesota Before A Possible Fall Launch

A lot of people from across the state were in Minneapolis this weekend for activities, like the record-breaking Savannah Banana game at Target Field. Some of my friends went down and noticed Waymo vehicles driving around. I've seen this in warmer climates, like Los Angeles, but this is relatively new in the Twin Cities area.

Driverless Taxis Currently Illegal In Minnesota

Driverless taxis aren't legal yet in Minnesota. Currently, a driver needs to be in the vehicle to take over if need be. However, legislators are working on establishing a framework for driverless taxis. Waymo hopes to be operating by this fall, according to KSTP, but that's still in limbo.

Mary Niemeyer

Waymo Uses Minnesota To Test Winter Driving

Waymo began testing this last winter in the metro area. It serves as the perfect place for testing out driverless taxis in winter conditions. Snow-covered roads, ice, and active winter storms can be a challenge for driverless taxis. Waymo says they also have been testing winter driving in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

On snow-covered roads, Waymo vehicles have LIDAR sensors that can monitor the vehicle's position, even without being able to see the lane lines.

Will Autonomous Vehicles Handle Blizzards?

However, as MPR reports, in heavy snowfall conditions, this may not work. There could be times when the driverless taxis will have to be grounded during blizzards.

The City of Minneapolis is researching and building a framework for autonomous vehicles. There are concerns about safety and job losses from Labor Unions for drivers.

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