Woman Delivers Baby in Waymo Robot Vehicle
A remarkable event unfolded in San Francisco when a woman gave birth inside a self-driving Waymo vehicle en route to the hospital. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, highlights the evolving role of autonomous technology in everyday life.
RELATED STORY: Waymo, The Autonomous Ride-hailing Service, Set to Come to Philly
The woman was heading to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center when her labor progressed unexpectedly. Waymo’s remote Rider Support Team detected unusual activity inside the vehicle and promptly contacted 911 while checking on the passenger. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the mother successfully delivered her baby inside the driverless car before reaching the hospital.
Both the mother and baby arrived safely at the medical center, making the newborn one of the youngest passengers to ever ride in an autonomous vehicle. Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), expressed pride in being part of such a significant life moment. A spokesperson for the company stated, “We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young.”
The vehicle was immediately taken out of service for cleaning, and Waymo confirmed that while such occurrences are rare, this was not the first time a baby had been born in one of their cars. The company’s advanced technology, including cameras and microphones, played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the passengers during the incident.
