Last week, a few friends and I embarked on a unique adventure, a race of self-driving cars through the heart of San Francisco. In this technological triathlon, we pitted a Waymo, a Cruise, and a Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) 11.4.3 against each other. The race course: McKinley Square to the Walt Disney Museum in the Presidio.
The start was a thrill. The Tesla and Waymo proved their resilience on a complex switchback road right out of McKinley Square, while the Cruise, showing some limitations, opted for an alternate route. As the race progressed, we faced a crucial strategic choice. Tesla's FSD was the only one with the green light to hit the freeway, giving it a significant edge over the others restricted to the city streets.
In the end, Tesla claimed the top spot, with Waymo coming in second and Cruise trailing in third place. This friendly race offered more than just a fun day out in San Francisco. It was a glimpse into the future of transportation, a testament to the capabilities of autonomous vehicles. Even though we had a clear winner, all the cars showed resilience and adaptability, marking an impressive milestone in the progress of self-driving technology.
