Waymo is a unit of Alphabet (previously called Google) that is fully dedicated to the Google self- driving car project. Almost 20 years ago, Google, with the help of Stanford University, started to work on this project. The idea received a boost in 2005 when DARPA awarded its Grand Challenge prize to the project. Then, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded it a $2 million prize. Google pio- neered physical experiments in 2009 after conduct- ing computer simulation for several years when it ran self-driving cars 2.5 billion virtual miles. The next step was to get legislation to allow autono- mous vehicles on the roads. By 2018, 10 states had passed such laws. Some allow robot-driven cars only in certain areas. Self-driving cars (see a Waymo car in Figure 13.8) with robot-only chauf- feurs were tested in early 2018 by Waymo in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. First, corporate engineering will be in the driver's seat; but, around November 2018, the cars were expected to be completely driverless. The company was ready to start running commercial minivans in five states in 2018. By the end of 2018, Waymo vans were expected to pick up regular passengers who volunteered to take the service (called Early Rider Program), although most travelers are still skeptic. This works in the following way. Company technicians, acting like regular riders, order service via a mobile app. The AI mechanism figures out how the vehicle will get to the requested caller as well as how it will self-drive to the requested destination. Waymo, the pioneer of autonomous vehicles, collaborated with Chrysler (using Chrysler Pacifica minivans). The computing power is provided by Intel (with its Mobileye division). The high cost of the cars will limit their use initially to commercial uses. However, Waymo already has agreed to manage Avis's fleet of self-driving minivans. Also, realizing the power of ride-sharing services, Waymo is work- ing with Lyft on new autonomous vehicles. Finally, Waymo is partnering with AutoNation to provide maintenance and road services for Waymo cars.

1. Why did Waymo first use simulation? 

2. Why was legislation needed? 

3. What is the Early Rider Program? 

4. Why will it take years before regular car owners will be able to enjoy a ride in the back seat of their self-driving cars? 

5. Why are Lyft, Uber, and Avis interested in self- driving cars?