Intel-Stuffed Waymo Autonomous Cars Have Logged 3 Million Test Miles, Says Krzanich

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich touted its partnership with Waymo, known previously as Google’s self-driving car project, in a Monday blog post discussing the future of autonomous driving. “I fully expect my children’s children will never have to drive a car,” said Krzanich, commenting on the pace of autonomous driving technology. “Something almost 90 percent of Americans do every day will end within a generation,” he said, citing Federal Highway Administration data. Nearly 90 percent of the 1.3 million deaths caused by road crashes worldwide every year are due to human error, he said, citing World Health Organization figures. Waymo’s self-driving Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans use Intel-based technologies for sensor processing, general computing and connectivity, enabling real-time decisions for full autonomy in city conditions, Krzanich said. As Waymo’s vehicles become smarter and more capable, hardware and software will require more powerful and efficient computing power, and Intel is prepared to offer the processor power required for the higher levels 4 and 5 autonomy, he said. Waymo vehicles with Intel technology have logged 3 million miles of real-world driving, said the executive.