Former Twitter Engineer Takes Record-Breaking Waymo Autonomous Taxi Ride
In an unprecedented test of autonomous vehicle technology, Sophia Tung, a former Twitter software engineer, recently completed a marathon 6.5-hour journey in a Waymo self-driving taxi around San Francisco. The 83-mile trip is believed to be one of the longest rides taken by a public passenger in a Waymo vehicle to date.
Tung’s adventure began when Waymo provided her with a promotional code for a free ride after resolving a noise complaint involving their vehicles. Determined to maximize the offer, Tung set out to attempt one of the longest possible rides within the city limits.
Preparing for what she hoped could be a 24-hour journey, Tung equipped herself with multiple cameras, and extra batteries, and strategically planned her snacks and bathroom breaks. However, she was aware that the Jaguar I-PACE used by Waymo has limited range due to the additional power consumption from onboard technology.
The ride, which began at 6:30 a.m. and concluded at 1:10 p.m., was restricted to San Francisco’s local roads within the city’s 50 square mile area. Tung navigated around Waymo’s four-stop limit by editing her journey mid-ride to extend her trip. Her itinerary included stops at various landmarks and even picking up a friend along the way.
In a creative—albeit unauthorized—move, Tung’s friend entered the vehicle through the window to avoid registering a stop, which violated Waymo’s terms of service. Despite this unconventional approach, Tung reported minimal issues during the ride, with only a few tricky situations and one instance where remote assistance was nearly called.
The journey was ultimately cut short when the vehicle’s battery reached a low charge. Waymo vehicles typically charge to 80% to preserve battery life, which limited the duration of Tung’s ride. The trip concluded when the vehicle’s range dropped to an estimated 20 miles remaining.
Reflecting on her experience, Tung expressed increased trust in Waymo’s autonomous driving capabilities. While she doesn’t consider it her primary mode of transport, she acknowledged the system’s reliability compared to her driving skills.
This record-breaking ride not only showcases the current capabilities of autonomous vehicle technology but also highlights the potential challenges and limitations that still exist in the field of self-driving cars.
