Introducing the Waymo Accessibility Network UK: Co-Designing the Future of Autonomous Mobility
Waymo launches the Waymo Accessibility Network UK to co-design autonomous mobility with disability advocates and charities, aiming to remove barriers in transport and enable independent travel.
Waymo has introduced the Waymo Accessibility Network UK to collaborate with British disability advocates and charities, ensuring autonomous mobility technology is developed with direct input from the disability community. The initiative aims to address daily transport challenges faced by disabled and older passengers in London, where barriers such as locating vehicles or guide dog refusals persist despite the city's advanced transport systems.
The network will work with 10 inaugural participants, including RNIB, AgeUK, and Guide Dogs UK, to refine features like sound alerts, adaptive navigation, and long walk warnings in the Waymo app. These tools are designed to enhance accessibility, such as helping blind or low-vision riders locate their vehicle or receive step-by-step navigation instructions upon arrival.
Waymo’s existing accessible design features include a lidar dome with customizable LED displays, in-car and on-screen alerts with audio descriptions, and app settings to reduce walking time or adjust climate controls. The app also supports guide dogs without prior notice and allows users to set preferences for audio cues, seat adjustments, and multilingual interfaces.
The initiative emphasizes partnership with disability organizations to shape autonomous vehicle deployment in the UK, with the goal of making Waymo a trusted mobility option in London’s transport network. Feedback from the network will directly inform product testing and user experience improvements before the service’s launch.