GoKawiil
Tech News
Elon Musk said Tesla extended its Austin robotaxi operating hours from 10pm to 11pm, explaining the limit exists to avoid hitting pets that are hard to see at night, specifically citing grey kittens on grey pavement. Tesla relies solely on cameras for its self-driving system, forgoing the radar and LIDAR sensors used by rival robotaxi operators.
Tesla has increased the number of its driverless Cybercab vehicles authorized for commercial service in Texas to nearly four times the count at launch a month ago. Riders have reported issues including long wait times, incorrect pickup and drop-off locations, and malfunctioning butterfly doors and trunks since the September 3 debut in Austin.
A rider in Austin used Tesla's newly launched Cybercab robotaxi service and documented on X how the vehicle became stuck navigating out of his hotel's parking lot due to a construction closure in one lane. Unable to detect the alternate open lane, the car reportedly shuttled back and forth four times before halting and declaring the trip complete, leaving the passenger back where he started.
Tesla's driverless Cybercab, now operating as part of its Robotaxi service, lacks a steering wheel and brake pedals, letting occupants recline their seats. Tesla's own rider guide warns passengers to keep seat backs within 35 degrees of vertical and feet flat on the floor to reduce injury risk in a crash, while safety researchers note that reclined seating already correlates with worse crash outcomes in conventional vehicles.
An anonymous worker who services Waymo vehicles for third-party contractor Transdev US told Bay Area Current that the job involves chaotic mass onboarding with no real interview process, rapid-fire training, and covert monitors who report contractors to management. The worker also described unpleasant physical tasks, including cleaning bodily waste left in vehicles, as part of daily duties. Neither Waymo nor Transdev responded to requests for comment on the claims.