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Waymo’s Hiring Binge

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Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#91

Post by nradov »

selectodude wrote: post #72
nradov wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Latency is literally a killer problem in remote operation. For example, the US Air Force operates Predator drones all around the world remotely from a base in Nevada. But for takeoff and landing (the most hazardous phases) they usually hand over control to another pilot located at that airfield.

The only surprising thing in your statement is the fact that the drones can’t land themselves. Even large commercial passenger aircraft can do that. Nobody dies if a drone cocks up on landing.

Very few commercial passenger aircraft have autoland capability, and even those that do have two human pilots ready to take over instantly in case of system failure.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#92

Post by warent »

rainyMammoth wrote: post #85
warent wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noogler is supposed to be silly/goofy, it's not cringe at all if it's self aware Disclaimer: used to be a noogler. I'm not mad at all!!1!

Seems to have achieved its goal on you.

Is there really so much need to take ourselves so seriously and simultaneously go out of our way to try and make others feel badly about the way they live their lives? It's unfathomable to me.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#93

Post by KKKKkkkk1 »

The article points out that the heads of perception and of motion planning have been replaced. That's big. The former head of planning Nathaniel Fairfield specifically has a legendary status there.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#94

Post by erikpukinskis »

a_t48 wrote: post #26

Weird, they ghosted me after my phone screen, coming from another self driving company. Guess they weren't that impressed with me. Or I "missed" the hiring binge.

Or the employee who screened you had no idea what they’re doing. That’s pretty common in my experience.

Or some random thing you said triggered a fear of theirs and they downvoted you in an abundance of caution. That’s pretty common too.

Not really worth reading into it. But it is worth applying again at a later date if you’re pumped about the company.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#95

Post by sib »

9nGQluzmnq3M wrote: post #27
echelon wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone (perhaps me) would be offended at the meaning and implication of that name. It's awful.

Yes, that's the joke. That said, there is a large, reputable, international law firm called Morrison & Foerster that revels in this wonderful domain name: https://www.mofo.com/

Let's face it - if you were hiring lawyers, wouldn't you want a bunch of MoFos?

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#96

Post by wpietri »

nickodell wrote: post #74
wpietri wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's crazy for reasons other people state, especially latency and connection reliability issues. But I think a related idea can work pretty well. Self-driving cars are classified into 6 SAE levels, 0-5. 5 is full autonomy, 4 is autonomy in limited conditions, 3 is self driving but there has to be a driver ready to take over. Getting to 5 is really hard. It could take decades, because there are a zillion edge…

In the case of the Uber crash in Tempe, the car did kick the decision over to a human operator. However, it did so 1.3 seconds before impact. This wasn't enough time for the human to assess the situation and decide what to do.

We're talking about two different things. Uber's approach was horrific in many ways, and I agree that's bad. I'm talking about a car that is advanced enough to drive and stop safely, but may sometimes not be sure what to do, especially in situations that require social cognition.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#97

Post by wpietri »

nradov wrote: post #67
wpietri wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's crazy for reasons other people state, especially latency and connection reliability issues. But I think a related idea can work pretty well. Self-driving cars are classified into 6 SAE levels, 0-5. 5 is full autonomy, 4 is autonomy in limited conditions, 3 is self driving but there has to be a driver ready to take over. Getting to 5 is really hard. It could take decades, because there are a zillion edge…

There are many places where cars have to go with no cellular data coverage, even inside major cities. Tunnels for example.

Sure. And you'll note that Waymo doesn't go anywhere like that.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#98

Post by fyfy18 »

nradov wrote: post #91
selectodude wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only surprising thing in your statement is the fact that the drones can’t land themselves. Even large commercial passenger aircraft can do that. Nobody dies if a drone cocks up on landing.

Very few commercial passenger aircraft have autoland capability, and even those that do have two human pilots ready to take over instantly in case of system failure.

The first part of your statement is not true. Autoland as in "press a button and go get a coffee" sure. Almost all commercial aircraft have systems that can land the aircraft themselves (with the pilot ready to take over at any point), but it is not often used in practice because:

- pilots still need to know how to land an aircraft themselves, so they may as well practice it (it's not like they are driving to work and can read Facebook)

- to prevent interference with the radio signals used for the ILS, ground aircraft are routed away from transmitters which reduces capacity of the airport when it has to be used

- the system isn't perfect, so from a safety perspective it's safer to use it as guidance rather than rely on it

Autoland is a requirement during severe weather conditions - when a pilot cannot obtain enough visual information to perform the landing themselves.

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#99

Post by username90 »

vl wrote: post #88
username90 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can do a 20% project for them even if they don't have headcount and managers can view your performance history so it is not hard to join an interesting project if you are good. Also if you are good enough they will add headcount to the team so you can join even if there weren't any before. Ask me how I know.

You are just advancing my point. I agree with what you say, but my point is that what is taunted as egalitarian fair system - “once you are in, it’s easy to transfer, just click the Transfer button” in reality doesn’t work like this at all.

Ah right, if your point is that you can't just transfer to a good team when you get in I agree, but it sounded as if being friends with the right people was required. It is all up to manager discretion, if they like you for any reason (beer or skills) you are good. Skills are usually easier to work with since it can be used to ask for more headcount while nobody would give you headcount so you can hire your beer buddy (I hope...).

Re: Waymo’s Hiring Binge

#100

Post by fragmede »

nradov wrote: post #67
wpietri wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's crazy for reasons other people state, especially latency and connection reliability issues. But I think a related idea can work pretty well. Self-driving cars are classified into 6 SAE levels, 0-5. 5 is full autonomy, 4 is autonomy in limited conditions, 3 is self driving but there has to be a driver ready to take over. Getting to 5 is really hard. It could take decades, because there are a zillion edge…

There are many places where cars have to go with no cellular data coverage, even inside major cities. Tunnels for example.

Starlink won't grant Internet coverage inside tunnels or underground, but it plans to blanket all of the US with Internet coverage making that far more possible than with terrestrial cellular data networks.

I'm sure Tesla has been keeping that in mind as their self-driving technology progresses.

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