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Waymo Retires Self-Driving Bubble Car
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo autonomous car unit is officially retiring its fleet of "Firefly" bubble-shaped prototype autonomous vehicles as it ramps up testing of its automated technologies in modified production cars and trucks.
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Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo autonomous car unit is officially retiring its fleet of "Firefly" bubble-shaped prototype autonomous vehicles as it ramps up testing of its automated technologies in modified production cars and trucks.
Waymo started its self-driving research program in 2009 as Google Project X and has logged about 3 million miles of testing on public roads since then with its distinctive Firefly cars. The company, which aims to supply integrated hardware and software to carmakers, began testing the first of 600 specially equipped Chrysler Pacifica minivans earlier this year.
Several of the Firefly cars, which also have been nicknamed “gumdrops” and "koalas," will be displayed around the world. This year’s venues include the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, The Thinkery in Austin, Tex., the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., and London’s Design Museum.
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