MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — Google autonomous vehicle spinoff Waymo says it will start testing on public roads in Florida to better experience heavy rain.
The Mountain View, California, company says tests will begin this month in the Miami area and include highway driving to Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers. The Florida test vehicles will be driven by humans. They'll collect data with laser and radar sensors. Heavy rain can affect image quality.
While we recognize the irony, we’re excited to add rain testing in the Sunshine State to the list of places our growing Waymo fleet has driven! https://t.co/PLQZGh05oQ
— Waymo (@Waymo) August 20, 2019
Waymo says Miami is one of the wettest cities in the U.S. during summer the months of hurricane season.
Waymo already is testing in multiple areas including the San Francisco and Phoenix areas as well as suburban Detroit and Seattle.
The company has delayed a full-scale autonomous ride-hailing service in the Phoenix area due to safety concerns.
