Waymo’s cars are loaded with 3D maps of nearby roads, sidewalks, traffic lights, and stop signs. Just like you need a map and directions to get somewhere, so does the car! Their cars also have cameras, sensors, and software that constantly look around for other cars, people, road work, or unexpected obstacles. These sensors can see much better than our eyes. It can see a helmet as far away as three football fields! When the car sees a moving object on the road, the car’s software (think of it like the car’s brain) predicts what the object might do based on how fast the object is moving or where it is. The car then decides what path to take and how fast it should go to make sure it moves safely.