Zooxthe unit of robotaxi amazonhas announced that it will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in austin (Texas) and Miami. This will be the first time the company has conducted testing outside the western United States.
Initial tests will deploy a fleet of vehicles Toyota Highlanders retrofitted with human safety drivers in limited areas near the business and entertainment districts of both cities, the company stated in a statement.
This expansion of testing occurs while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates 500 Zoox vehicles equipped with automated driving systems after two accidents were reported. In California and NevadaZoox has been testing its autonomous vehicles specially designed to have no steering wheels or pedals and with space for four passengers, arranged two by two facing each other. “We are extending our testing to collect more data and evaluate performance in various urban conditions”declared a Zoox spokesperson.
In parallel, other robotaxis companies, such as Cruisefrom General Motors, and Waymofrom Alphabet, are also being investigated by NHTSA regarding the performance of their autonomous vehicles. “Safety is our number one priority and we collaborate fully with the investigations”said a Cruise spokesperson. Cruise, for its part, recently resumed operations in dallas with a small fleet of vehicles with human drivers, after it paused its activities due to an incident in San Francisco in October last year.
austin and Miami become the fourth and fifth public testing locations for Zoox already operating in San Francisco, Las Vegas and seattle. “These cities mark a new chapter for us, bringing us closer to our business goals,” Zoox said in his statement. While they won’t be offering rides to the public in these new cities for now, they are exploring several locations for potential retail offerings following their initial planned launch in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
This move by Zoox highlights the company’s growth and ambitions in the autonomous mobility sector, where testing in different cities is essential to adjust the technology to varied urban contexts. “Our vehicles are designed to adapt and learn from each environment,” stressed a Zoox representative.
The tests in Austin and Miami will focus primarily on driving in dense urban areas and handling complex traffic situations. Testing in multiple locations allows the collection of a variety of data crucial to the perfection of the technology used.
Zoox is a fully electric vehicle built to transport up to four passengers. Its design is completely autonomous, which is why it lacks a steering wheel and driver’s seat, features that represent an innovation in urban mobility. “Zoox will provide mobility services in densely populated urban environments. We will take care of the driving, charging, maintenance and updates of our fleet of vehicles. The user will simply pay for the service.”mentions the company on its official site.
The robotaxi is distinguished by its two-way driving capability and four-wheel steering, allowing it to easily maneuver in tight spaces without the need to back up. In addition, it is equipped with a series of cameras, radars and sensors. LED located in the four corners of the body, offering 360-degree coverage and eliminating blind spots. “The field of vision reaches 150 meters in all directions, even in corners, which offers safety on the road,” according to Zoox.
Among other safety features, the robotaxi integrates an airbag system in each of its four seats and an advanced prediction system based on machine learning. This technology allows us to anticipate the actions of other vehicles and pedestrians, facilitating safe autonomous driving in densely populated urban environments. Due to “a system that integrates machine learning algorithms is capable of differentiating humans, objects, cars and other elements,” Zoox explained.
The vehicle has the capacity to reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and has a 133 kWh battery that allows it to operate for up to 16 hours on a single charge, a company spokesperson said. Robotaxi tests are already taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and San Francisco, California. These tests are essential to improve the autonomous driving system, feeding the artificial intelligence system with hours of training.
In terms of user experience, the Zoox robotaxi offers options to adjust the music and check the arrival time and trip route. Zoox plans to launch an application that will allow users to access this innovative transportation service. However, an exact date for its opening to the public has not yet been defined.
Founded in 2014 by Jesse Levinson and Tim Kentley-Klay, Zoox began developing and testing prototypes in its early years. In 2015 they carried out their first proof of concept and a year later they introduced improvements in design and functionality. “In 2017, one of its vehicles completed the first fully autonomous driving experience in San Francisco,” points out the company blog.
