GabyZoox’s autonomous robotaxi is ready to hit California’s public roads. The company has already received the official permit to run it — a big deal, because it’s the only robotaxi allowed to operate on the state’s highways.
On the outside, the roughly 3.6-meter-long vehicle looks like nothing else on the road. The shiny box on wheels more closely resembles a prototype Mars rover than a conventional car.
The vehicle’s first trip on California streets took place on February 11 of this year, Designboom reported. Currently, the car — which has no steering wheel, pedals, or driver — will ferry company employees through Foster City, moving from one office building to another over a distance of about 1.5 km.
What is special about this smart taxi?
Zoox, which develops autonomous vehicles from the ground up, is now a subsidiary of Amazon. The tech giant bought the company in 2020 for more than $1.2 billion, though Zoox engineers have been working on the unique robotic cars since 2014.
The autonomous robotaxi uses navigation systems and sensors and can carry up to four passengers at once. Inside, passengers sit facing each other. Four independently steerable wheels give the vehicle extra maneuverability. The robotaxi can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h, though testing was limited to 56 km/h to thoroughly check how the vehicle turns and how it reacts to pedestrians, traffic lights, bicycles, and other cars.
Passengers glued to their smartphones don’t need to worry about dead batteries. The comfortable seats include wireless charging and cup holders. A transparent sunroof brings in natural light during the day and makes for stargazing at night.
The Zoox design has no defined front or rear, so the taxi can move in either direction, which simplifies boarding and disembarking. The robotaxi uses signal lights to warn other road users when it stops or breaks down. A fully charged battery allows the vehicle to operate for 16 hours. The car’s sensors detect objects from all directions up to 150 meters away, helping it avoid collisions.
The company hopes the robotaxi service will be available to the public soon, not just employees. Rolling it out will require additional approval from regulators, and Zoox’s leaders have pushed the implementation plan back until the end of spring.
