Ambulance Update Is a Reminder of How Much Self-Driving Cars Have to Learn

And they can't afford to miss a single thing.

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Self-driving cars are making their way to our streets soon, but before they can get on the road they will have to learn every single tiny thing that we take for granted when we get behind the wheel. Take, for instance, making way for emergency vehicles like ambulances and firetrucks.

Waymo, the spin-off of Google's self-driving car division, has begun to train its self-driving Chrysler minivan to comprehend both the sounds and looks of an emergency vehicle on the street so it can pull over accordingly. Teaming up with Chandler Police and Fire in Arizona, they set up a testing area where emergency vehicles could pass and be trailed by Chryslers throughout the day.

The data Waymo collected will be used to help the minivans recognize which direction emergency vehicles are approaching from by their sirens and flashing lights so they can either yield at an intersection or let the vehicle pass by moving over to the side of the road.

It's a crucial advancement, only one thing on the long, long list of tasks that human drivers may take for granted but that robot drivers will have to learn from scratch. Now someone just has to teach the robot truckers how to honk for kids.

Source: Engadget

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