nuTonomy, a US-based start-up, has become the first company in the world to trial self-driving taxis. Founded in 2013 by two MIT researchers specialising in robotics and driverless technology, the company has beaten giants such as Uber, Volvo and Google to the road.
Earlier this year, nuTonomy sought permission from the Singapore government to test self-driving cars. Now NuTonomy’s self-driving taxis are picking up passengers as part of a public trial.
Safety First
The company’s ultimate goal is to have a commercial, fully self-driving fleet in operation by 2018.
For obvious reasons, the service will start off small with an invited group of around a dozen people taking part. For safety, a nuTonomy engineer will be on-board at all times, along with a further back-up driver, to assume control if necessary.
The first taxis – modified Mitsubish i-MiEV electrics – are running in a 2.5 square mile business district called ‘One North’, with pick-up and drop-off points limited to specific locations. At the moment the service is being provided at no cost with participants able to hail a free ride from their smartphones.
Whilst the initial testing time-frame is open-ended, nuTonomy CEO, Karl Lagnemma, has suggested that occupants may start paying for the service and that more pick-up and drop-off points will be added as the trial continues.
The company’s ultimate goal is to have a commercial, fully self-driving fleet in operation by 2018.
How Does it Work?
There are six cars on trial in Singapore at the moment. Each is fitted with a complex system of lasers that operate like a radar to monitor the car’s surrounding. In addition there are cameras that work with the software.
Feedback so far has been very positive. Although, the Guardian reported that a press reporter taking a ride observed that the safety driver had to step on the brakes once, when a car was obstructing the test car’s lane and another vehicle, which appeared to be parked, suddenly began moving in the oncoming lane.
The Future
So, what does this mean for the future of the taxi industry? Uber is planning to trial a fleet of driverless cars in Pittsburgh, US, in the next few weeks. It may be some time before we see driver taxis but could this advancement in technology spell the end of the road for millions of cabbies across the world?
Have your say on Facebook and watch nuTonomy’s promo video.