Professor Rajamani Weighs in on Waymo's Debut in Winter Weather Testing

With Waymo beginning early-stage testing of its autonomous vehicles in Minneapolis, MPR News spoke with Mechanical Engineering Professor Rajesh Rajamani, an expert in autonomous vehicle systems. Rajamani provided insight into how technologies like lidar sensors and digital mapping allow self-driving cars to navigate when lane markings are obscured by snow—an issue common in Minnesota winters.

Rajamani also addressed the challenges of active snowfall and icy conditions. He noted that heavy precipitation can degrade sensor performance, likely limiting when the vehicles are operable. While technologies such as electronic stability control help improve handling on icy roads, Rajamani emphasized that even autonomous systems will have operational thresholds. The interview also included Frank Douma of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, who discussed the evolving legal and regulatory landscape around autonomous vehicles in Minnesota.