SAN ANTONIO – Waymo has resumed autonomous ride service in the Alamo City, including trips to and from San Antonio International Airport, according to a news release.
The autonomous vehicle company temporarily paused its ride service to complete software updates and operational improvements focused on rider safety, including the ability to detect flood waters.
The company cited flooding-related performance concerns as a reason for the pause.
Waymo said it conducted an audit of potential flood zones to identify high-risk areas and set location limitations for the vehicles.
The company also adjusted its alerts to better respond to weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, and improved the Waymo Driver’s ability to detect and navigate away from floodwaters when necessary.
Waymo said severe weather may cause another temporary pause when needed and will resume when it is safe to do so.
The company uses the National Weather Service and local guidance to monitor weather and road conditions, the release said.
Waymo said the improvements have already performed well in other cities that continued operating this summer.
“We look forward to earning the trust of San Antonians as they experience the magic of Waymo rides once again,” said Robert Chen, product lead for weather at Waymo.
Riders can check current service availability through the Waymo app.
