Snow, ice and no driver? Waymo's robotaxis face the ultimate winter test

THE TAKEAWAY Waymo is expanding efforts to prepare its autonomous vehicles for severe winter weather.

Alaska’s snow, ice and extended darkness will provide a rigorous test of Waymo’s cold weather capabilities.

FAIRBANK, Alaska - When winter weather makes travel treacherous, snow and ice can make the roads challenging for any driver, but what happens when there’s no one behind the wheel?

Waymo, one of the world’s leading autonomous vehicle companies, is bringing its self-driving vehicles to Alaska to test the company’s technology in heavy snow and severe winter conditions.

The 6th-generation Waymo Driver uses cameras, radar and lidar to navigate the world around it, while built-in heaters and micro-wipers keep sensors clear in icy conditions," Waymo said.