Google[X] | Waymo
Transforming Google[X]’s Vision with Innovative Autonomous Vehicle Design
Google[X] hired Autolet’s founder as their first experienced automotive design leader for this dynamic project: to imagine and create the physical look and feel of the world’s very first fully autonomous vehicle, codenamed Firefly. The street legal vehicle would be road tested on community streets within the local Mountain View community, and it was imperative that it be socially acceptable and embraced by municipalities and legislative bodies. Therefore, Autolet designed a very friendly and approachable fully autonomous 2-passenger car for Google[X]s Chauffeur group, pre-Waymo, which Google was able to call their own in less than six months. The car’s groundbreaking technology doesn’t require it to be driven by a human, and therefore doesn’t require any traditional manual controls.
Elevating Google’s Transportation Design with Expertise and Innovation
AutoLet educated Google’s leadership on the importance of 100+yrs of transportation design in order to instill public trust, perceived quality and safety of new technologies, and overall idea maturity. AutoLet’s team then designed and digitally modeled multiple interior and exterior design themes for consideration, then built five ⅓ scale physical models for Google leadership’s design critiques. Autolet led the singular vehicle theme down-selection process based on the company’s perception suite, manufacturing processes, and rider and fleet usability factors. Autolet designed this vehicle interior while incorporating passenger ergonomic studies and viewing angles. Autolet seamlessly integrated Google’s in-house perception suite into the vehicle’s overall form, locating and simulating the vehicle’s 3D sensor field-of-views digitally while collaborating closely with Google’s multiple software and hardware engineering teams. AutoLet also led Firefly’s studio engineering process with a multitude of external vehicle engineers at Roush to execute AutoLet’s design for limited production.
AutoLet’s Pioneering Integration Paves the Way for Google’s Autonomous Vehicle Success
AutoLet successfully integrated Google’s groundbreaking technology into a custom-branded vehicle design in order for the search engine company to be first-to-market and own the first functional AV proof of concept. AutoLet built hard trim, soft trim, conceptual seating CAD, and executed Firefly’s design intent with the automotive suppliers. AutoLet also built the seating buck and full mule vehicles for the autonomy, engineering, and user research studies. The Firefly vehicle was ultimately a functional demonstrator which took automotive leaders and legislative lawmakers for rides, convincing them that AV tech was a game changer in safer, more enjoyable mobility. Google’s leap into manufacturing its first ride-hailing fleet vehicles was nothing but exceptional in 2012, and it couldn’t have been accomplished without Autolet acting as the design bridge to bring the idea to life. The result was a very approachable NEV with tightly integrated exteriors sensors into the vehicle, a critical enabler to Waymo’s future success, which was valued at $200B a few years after Chauffeur spun out and branded itself as Waymo.
Working with Ben Julian from AutoLet has been a highlight in my career. His expertise in digital modeling and automotive design is unmatched, making them stand out in the Silicon Valley tech scene. AutoLet expertly combines design aesthetics with functional pragmatism, ensuring that their innovative designs are not only visually striking but also production-ready. Their positive, problem-solving approach truly makes them a valuable asset to any team focused on the future of automotive technology.
–Marc Costa, Google