Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, has begun offering driverless Robotaxi rides in California after being granted a testing permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The robotaxi provides seating for up to four passengers, with two facing each other. Zoox’s vehicles have been designed specifically for driverless taxi rides and are not equipped with a steering wheel or pedals.
Shortly after receiving the permit on February 11th, Zoox conducted its first run of the employee shuttle service in Foster City, California. This marks the first time in history that a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi without traditional driving controls has transported passengers on open public roads.
According to CTO and co-founder Jesse Levinson, the vehicle’s ability to operate on public roads and its deployment in the employee shuttle service will help improve its technology and operations as the company prepares for commercial launch.
The robotaxi is 3.63 meters (11.9 feet) long. It features four-wheel steering, which allows it to turn in a tight circle of just 8.5 m(27.5 ft), as well as an active suspension that ensures a comfortable ride for passengers.
To gather information about its surroundings, the robotaxi uses a combination of vision cameras, radars, and LiDAR, which are then processed by an onboard computer system.
Passengers board the Zoox vehicle through sliding doors and take a seat on comfortable face-to-face bench seating, complete with safety belts, before embarking on their journey. This autonomous vehicle from Zoox has a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h) and is capable of traveling for up to 16 hours on a single charge.
After completing its first public road test on February 11, the vehicle will now be utilized to transport up to four Zoox employees simultaneously between two buildings that are approximately one mile apart in Foster City.
The vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) and is capable of handling left and right turns, bi-directional turns, and traffic lights while ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. The vehicle has been programmed to operate responsibly and adhere to traffic rules.
During business hours, Zoox has announced that it will provide its full-time employees with robotaxi rides between its Foster City offices. The company stated that it plans to broaden its services to the public as it makes further advancements and secures additional government clearances.
