The robotaxi is en route

Waymo, Alphabet’s subsidiary dedicated to the development of software for autonomous driving vehicles (or, as they like to say, “developing the world’s best driver”), which already has fleets using its technology in California and Arizona, has announced a partnership with Volvo to develop self-driving electric taxis, so-called robotaxis.

Volvo had a similar agreement with Uber, which was cancelled after an accident in Tempe, Arizona, which killed a pedestrian. Nevertheless, the Swedish carmaker continues to produce vehicles for Uber, which is pressing ahead with its robotaxi plans.

Meanwhile, Waymo has agreements with Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, Fiat Chrysler and Jaguar Land Rover, which have supplied vehicles for its fleets, and plans to develop a factory in Detroit for the adaptation of these vehicles.

In parallel, Elon Musk said in April 2019 that Tesla would have a fleet of robotaxis on the road by 2020, although he acknowledged that he was not particularly good at calculating deadlines. In April, he insisted his plan was waiting for regulatory approval. In addition, Tesla’s have continued to incorporate improvements through software updates, such as recognition of signal cones or traffic lights, and the feeling behind the wheel on the highway is one of a high level of autonomy, which allows the driver to simply interact with the vehicle to confirm overtaking. Uber’s CEO played down Musk’s prediction in 2019, saying robotaxis were still years away, which seems to have been contradicted by the fact that Waymo’s vehicles have already been operating for some time without a safety driver.

The main obstacle to the development of the autonomous vehicle is no longer technology, it’s the development of highly detailed mapping. In cities where investments have been made to carry out such detailed mapping, the vehicles are operating normally and have proven themselves to be completely safe. Their use as robotaxis is what is required to attract companies willing to invest in micro-mapping so they can operate the fleets and, from there, continue to feed them with the incidents that the vehicle sensors may capture, such as potholes, changes in the roads, etc.

In a business such as passenger transport, in which 70% of running costs are wages, the robotaxi is a game changer with the potential to transform our cities, and will be driven by competition between the companies intending to offer this type of service. The vehicle of the future will be connected, autonomous, electric and shared. We need to start planning for that future now.

(En espa?ol, aquí)

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