Waymo, the autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is actively pursuing permission to expand its self-driving taxi operations in San Francisco to cover the city’s airport.
Emails seen by IOT World Today include a Freedom of Information Act request for Waymo to “carry out pick-ups and drop-offs at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).”
Waymo at SFO
Despite having permits for commercial operations in San Francisco and surrounding areas, Waymo faces a complex approval process for airport access.
What factors are playing a role? It’s a complex mix of jurisdiction, permit structures, safety considerations, stakeholder considerations, and the red tape of a phased approach.
Airports operate under separate jurisdictions and regulations than city streets, so Waymo’s existing permits won’t cut it. The SF Airport Commission has authority over ground transportation, which is managed separately from the city’s transportation authority.
Even when that’s cleared, the airport would also need to create a new permit structure for autonomous vehicles (AVs) – similar to process ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft must adhere to. Additionally, airports have specific traffic patterns, security concerns, and operational requirements.
And given the high-stakes nature of airport transportation, Waymo would likely face additional scrutiny on the safety and reliability of its AVs on airport property.
Other legal headache
The company is also suing individuals in San Francisco who have vandalized several autonomous vehicles. This follows less than a month of the AV company introducing its Waymo One service to the city.
The AV company recently filed two lawsuits. The first against Konstantine Nikka-Sher Piterman, who is said to have intentionally rear-ended a Waymo AV with his Tesla Model 3. Waymo is seeking $45,795.
Piterman took to X, claiming that the AV “rekt” him, before asking Tesla CEO Elon Musk for a job.
The second lawsuit is against Ronaile Burton, who is accused of slashing the tires of 19 Waymo vehicles. Burton has pleaded not guilty, and Waymo is seeking $21,900 for towing and new tires, and $66,000 in punitive damages.
An older incident from February involves a 14-year-old boy accused of setting fire to a Waymo AV, however, no case was filed against the teenager.
In a separate incident, a San Francisco man was caught on camera, yelling at an AV, “You’re not better than me! I have way more testosterone than you!”
NOW READ: Here’s how Waymo’s AI revs up autonomous driving
Share this article
About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
