Narrow roads, unexpected turns, disruptive construction and cross-when-you-dare pedestrian behavior all make driving in Boston a challenge for even the most skilled human drivers. So, what happens if Boston drivers are no longer in the driver’s seat?
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles now routinely navigate the streets of cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, but as the company tests its self-driving technology in Boston there’s debate about whether the cars can navigate city’s unique conditions, the threat they pose to existing jobs and whether they will create greater mobility for underserved populations.
In this episode of The Curiosity Desk, Edgar B. Herwick III takes Jinhua Zhao, director of MIT’s Transit Lab, for a ride across the city to explore the technology, concerns and promise of self-driving technology.
