Waymo, the self-driving tech development unit of Alphabet, has revealed details about its sixth-generation Waymo Driver self-driving technology. The new system will be integrated into Geely Zeekr electric vehicles and is designed to handle a wider range of weather conditions while reducing costs.

The new generation features fewer sensors, with 13 cameras instead of 29, and four LiDAR sensors instead of five. It includes cameras, lidar, radar, and external audio receivers, providing a 360-degree view of the vehicle's surroundings up to 500 meters away. The system can operate in various weather conditions, including extreme heat, fog, rain, hail, and freezing temperatures.

The company expects to bring this generation to market faster than previous versions, citing advances in machine learning and semiconductor performance. Waymo is currently testing the system on public roads and plans to use it to expand its robotaxi service.

Analyst QuickTake: Waymo first partnered with Geely in December 2021 to develop electric autonomous robotaxis, with plans to retrofit the cars with the hardware and software necessary for autonomous driving. The duo revealed the first prototype in November 2022.