Autonomous vehicle company Waymo has introduced a custom 5-nanometer application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed to pre-process video feeds from its robotaxi fleet before data reaches the central computer. According to reports published by TechCrunch and Gate, the proprietary chip delivers more than 1,000 teraoperations per second (TOPS) and operates alongside a hardware and software supply chain involving major technology manufacturers including AMD, Micron, Nvidia, Samsung, SanDisk, Socionext, and TSMC.
Custom 5nm ASIC Performance and Vehicle Integration
According to technical details released by Waymo, the custom 5 nm silicon acts as the primary pre-processor for the 13 high-resolution cameras integrated into the Ojai robotaxi platform. The processor handles machine learning workloads exceeding 1,000 TOPS, comparable to the Nvidia DRIVE AGX Thor. Gate reported that the specialized chip processes raw data streams from lidar, radar, and camera sensors simultaneously in real time, engineered specifically to provide low latency, hardware redundancy, and long-term vehicle durability. Waymo stated that its onboard computing power has increased twentyfold over an eight-year period, supported by data gathered across more than 200 million miles of fully autonomous driving operations.
Robotaxi Expansion in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco
Alongside the hardware unveiling, Waymo expanded public availability of its Ojai robotaxi service to all passengers across Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. According to TechCrunch, the company designed the latest generation of vehicles to lower production costs, operational expenses, and routine maintenance requirements. By pairing internal custom silicon development with a diversified manufacturing supply chain that includes TSMC and Samsung for semiconductor fabrication alongside memory and storage providers Micron and SanDisk, the Alphabet subsidiary aims to scale its commercial driverless fleet more efficiently across major metropolitan markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the performance metric of the new Waymo ASIC?
According to reports from TechCrunch and Gate, the custom 5 nm chip delivers more than 1,000 teraoperations per second (TOPS).
Which cities currently offer public access to the Ojai robotaxi service?
According to TechCrunch, the service is open to all passengers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
Which semiconductor and hardware partners contribute to Waymo’s manufacturing chain?
According to Waymo’s disclosure, its supply chain includes AMD, Micron, Nvidia, Samsung, SanDisk, Socionext, and TSMC.
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