Our 6th-gen system builds on the unparalleled capabilities of our current, 5th-generation system, which has been instrumental to helping Waymo scale our service to some of the densest cities in the United States and improving road safety where we operate. With 13 cameras, 4 lidar, 6 radar, and an array of external audio receivers (EARs), our new sensor suite is optimized for greater performance at a significantly reduced cost, without compromising safety. It provides the Waymo Driver with overlapping fields of view, all around the vehicle, up to 500 meters away, day and night, and in a range of weather conditions.
Our current system allows us to provide safe and reliable service to riders in the cities where we operate, even in extreme heat, fog, rain, and hail. Through regular road trips to newer cities, we've deepened our understanding of winter weather's impact on our technology and operations and applied these valuable insights directly to our 6th-generation system. For example, since our vehicles are exposed to the elements for long periods without manual intervention, we implemented preventive measures for each sensor to maintain a clear view of its surroundings whether it's driving through a buggy Texas road or operating in freezing temperatures. Complementing these protective strategies, we build significant margins into our sensor capabilities to ensure reliable performance even in adverse conditions, in turn increasing each modality's range.