Waymo Challenges Tesla’s Camera-Only Path to Full Autonomy

The autonomous-driving industry remains divided over whether cameras and artificial intelligence can deliver full autonomy without lidar or radar. Tesla has built its strategy around a vision-only system and is preparing to launch its steering wheel- and pedal-free Cybercab. Alphabet-owned Waymo instead combines cameras, lidar, radar and high-definition maps, arguing that redundant perception is essential to operating safe Level 4 robotaxis at scale.

Waymo Vice President of Onboard Software Srikanth Thirumalai said in an Aug. 26 post that more than 200 million fully autonomous miles had shown cameras “aren’t enough” for safe, large-scale deployment. Without naming Tesla, he also called the idea of evolving a Level 2 driver-assistance product into Level 4 autonomy a “false summit.” Waymo operates fully autonomous vehicles in 11 cities and provides 500,000 paid rides a week, while Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system remains classified as Level 2 and requires driver supervision.