Waymo’s self-driving cars are undoubtedly a marvel of technology, now operating in six cities to transport passengers. However, this advancement comes with its own share of challenges. One such issue arises when a passenger inadvertently leaves the car door open, rendering the vehicle immobile.
According to a recent Reddit post, a DoorDash driver encountered an unusual request in their queue. Instead of a standard delivery, they were offered $6.25 to drive less than a mile to a Waymo vehicle and close its door. Upon completion, an extra $5 would be rewarded. “You actually ‘door’ dashed,” one commenter quipped.
Waymo’s innovation in autonomous vehicles is truly impressive, with the company recently securing $16 billion to expand its driverless car operations globally. Despite these advancements, the issue of doors being left open remains a genuine concern, as confirmed by Waymo and DoorDash.
“Waymo is currently running a pilot program in Atlanta to enhance its AV fleet efficiency. In the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get its vehicles back on the road quickly,” the companies stated. This collaboration, initiated earlier this year, is just one aspect of the broader partnership between Waymo and DoorDash, which includes an autonomous delivery service in Phoenix.
In the event of a Waymo door being left open, it is crucial for the company to promptly address the issue to prevent disruptions in transportation and traffic flow. To resolve this, they have engaged gig workers to assist in closing doors when needed.
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Waymo has also collaborated with Honk in Los Angeles to address door-related issues, where users have been offered incentives to close Waymo vehicle doors. While future Waymo vehicles are expected to feature automated door closures, for now, gig workers remain an essential part of the solution.
