Waymo is partnering with two taxi companies in Japan to pilot self-driving "robotaxis" in seven cities in Tokyo next year. The experiment could provide more taxi capacity in the face of a chronic labor shortage - but Waymo's US record raises questions about its safety. https://buff.ly/3BnFipK - ThreadSky

unseenjapan.com • 66 days ago

Waymo is partnering with two taxi companies in Japan to pilot self-driving "robotaxis" in seven cities in Tokyo next year. The experiment could provide more taxi capacity in the face of a chronic labor shortage - but Waymo's US record raises questions about its safety.

https://buff.ly/3BnFipK

Comments

fsumogle.bsky.social•66 days ago

I'm curious what part of Tokyo they will suddenly gather in a collective mess when they are all lost.

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

Samezu. Definitely Samezu.

njiska.com•66 days ago

Waymo taxis pulling a 2017 Shibuya halloween.

eschart.bsky.social•66 days ago

but the whole point of taking a taxi is getting to stress test your listening comprehension with an old guy who strings all his words together and talks at the speed of light

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

JLPT Level Ojisan

lmfsilva.bsky.social•66 days ago

How many days it will take until the first illegal Mario Kart tour - robotaxi accident?

fsumogle.bsky.social•66 days ago

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

I hate that but also as a publisher I’m looking forward to it

junkyardcrawler.bsky.social•66 days ago

oh god, if these things can barely manage American stroads, how the hell are they gonna do Japan?

tokyoramenguide.bsky.social•66 days ago

I commute to work via bicycle alongside Waymos in SF. I can say that I much prefer Waymos being on the same road over Tokyo taxi drivers.

navigatorbr.bsky.social•66 days ago

Considering how US streets are likely the best possible environment for these things, and they're still struggling, I don't know how the fuck they're going to cope with Toyko.

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

(Minor correction - Go isn’t a taxi company but a taxi app service company. Nihon Kotsu is the taxi company involved.)

mattcyborg.bsky.social•65 days ago

What's the reception of GO out there like for the drivers and locals? I used it a bunch last month and it was fantastic.

unseenjapan.com•65 days ago

A lot of people here use it. I’ve used it and like it. Currently it tends to be pricier than Uber, which I think is trying to make headway in the market. I’ve also seen instances where short trips on Go are 2x the cost of hailing a cab. But the service itself works great

njiska.com•66 days ago

Odd question, but given the unique aspects of Japanese taxis, I wonder if the self driving taxi will automatically open and close the door, or if people will stand around confused, waiting for that to happen?

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

I imagine it'll open automatically, hopefully after confirming the user is actually nearby (e.g., using a Bluetooth ping from the user's smartphone)

njiska.com•66 days ago

According to their documentation, for North America the doors unlock when you approach if bluetooth is on, or via a button in the app. I just wonder, since the automatic door function is a staple of Japanese taxis, if they're remember to add it or not.

unseenjapan.com•66 days ago

Be a pretty big miss if they didn't lol. Since they're working with Go Taxi and Nihon Kotsu, I imagine someone's gonna bring it up...