LAS VEGAS – Technology e mobility they go hand in hand more and more: the novelties we are seeing in Las Vegas prove it. Cars that become real intelligent travel companions, smart features and much more. But a trend that has struck us is that of taxis and self-driving shuttles: al CES 2023 we have seen more than one model which promises to revolutionize urban mobility with autonomous driving. From the robotaxis by Voox to the smart shuttles of ZF e Holon Mover (with Pininfarina design), passengers no longer need a chauffeur.
Self-driving taxis and shuttles: autonomous driving revolutionizes urban mobility at CES 2023
Walking among the stands of the Las Vegas Convention Center, we navigate in a sea of technology. But some smart vehicles could not go unnoticed. Like new robotaxis by Voox. Which with its soft lines certainly does not go unnoticed. Even if the most obvious “oddity” is undoubtedly the fact that this taxi is without a driver.
Voox, the taxi without a driver
This electric vehicle has four wheels that can turn in different directions: he can therefore park next to the sidewalk even without parking “at them”. And being driverless, this taxi can accommodate more people and items while remaining very compact.
The robotaxi has LIDAR sensors, RGB cameras, radar sensors and also infrared vision. This allows you to collect road and traffic data, overlaying mappings to make sure the car is see everything within 150 metersin all directions.
The Zoox team explains that the company was the first to certify at the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This means that this vehicle has completed testing, computer and road simulations, for a collective experience of hundreds of years. All to ensure that, despite no one driving, this robotaxi remains safe. On the contrary: unlike a human driver, he is not distracted by looking at his smartphone, he is not sleepy. 94% of accidents result from human errors, after all.
Self-driving shuttles, the public transport of tomorrow
If we had already seen driverless trains on the Milan subway, to see taxis and shuttles we had to come to CES in Las Vegas.
The German brand ZF for example announced a level 4 self-driving shuttle, the highest currently on the market, which will soon hit American roads. Or maybe they will be able to shuttle at airports or universities, for example.
Again we find radars, lidars and cameras that collect an enormous amount of data, which through the system ZF Connect send to the cloud. Here an artificial intelligence immediately elaborates the safest driving strategies, sending commands to the driving system.
The ZF team at CES 2023 explains to us that these vehicles will have ranges up to 130 kilometres, with maximum speeds of 40 km/h. Even if in the future they could even reach 80 km/h. Here too, as in Zoox’s driverless taxi, we find steering wheels that allow maneuvering in confined spaces.
Pininfarina style for self-driving vans
Another self-driving vehicle that debuted at CES 2023 in Las Vegas is Holon Mover, a self-driving van that wants to change urban mobility. In essence, it is a electric minibus that manages to move independently, with impressive battery life and speed: up to 290 kilometres, at 60 km/h.
Also in this case we find the best technology to transport up to 15 passengers safely and without a driver. But in addition we find the design Pininfarina.
Large round headlights, both rear and front, simple lines with color accents with a futuristic flavor. And under the body the autonomous driving system Mobileye Drive, which uses the many sensors to map the road.
But this smart van also uses technology to increase inclusiveness. For instance, electric doors have a ramp and there are holders to secure the wheelchairs. And there is also information in Braille and audio guidance on board.
This van will arrive on US roads in 2025, where it will serve for universities, airports and national parks. But it is not so unthinkable to see this or future iterations also for busy roads, taking advantage of this service for urban mobility.
Self-driving taxis and shuttles could help provide more widespread transportation services, integrating with subways and bus lines. A better service for those who move around the city, which is moreover ecological. In fact, in addition to not having drivers, these vehicles also have no emissions: a more sustainable and intelligent urban mobility. Which is not yet on our streets when we need to go to the office, to meet friends, to the cinema. But that it’s coming, and it’s doing it without the need for a driver.