Reinventing Personal Transportation: Amazon’s Zoox Robotaxi Rolls Out on California Public Roads

There are people who enjoy driving and don’t mind the traffic every now and then, and then there are those, who, let’s just say, like to be driven around. For the latter, here’s some news. Amazon’s subsidiary Zoox, which announced its ambitious driverless robotaxi in 2020, has now hit California public roads.

The robotaxi recently made its inaugural run after receiving the permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency responsible for regulating autonomous vehicles in the state. Zoox’s robotaxi also passed the self-certification from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Aicha Evans was delighted to share that the company has become the first company to ‘operate a purpose-built robotaxi with passengers on open public roads in California and that it was a significant milestone in not only Zoox’s journey but for the autonomous vehicle industry at large’.

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Features of Zoox Robotaxi

Zoox believes its electric, autonomous robotaxi is reinventing personal transportation and is ‘making the future safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone.’

• No matter where you are seated in the car, the robotaxi promises supreme comfort in all its seats.
• For the comfort of the riders, it comes with a cupholder, so don’t worry about putting that coffee down.
• Better tire traction and control weight distribution.
• The wireless charging lets the passengers top up their phones without any hassles.
• Passengers can personalize their rides with details like arrival time, location, and route. You can also set your own music.
• With its advanced safety features, each rider is promised the utmost safety. Another feature is the innovative airbag that inflates between riders and keeps each one separate and protected.
• The 133 kWh batteries give you the power to drive all day.
• Each wheel functions on individual braking and active suspension system to prevent any potential crashes.
• Each wheel can be controlled separately including speed, power, and direction.

In the beginning, the robotaxi service will act as a shuttle for its employees between its two main buildings in Foster City, California. The autonomous robotaxi may not have a pedal or steering wheel, but it comes with bidirectional driving capabilities and four-wheel steering, which allows the vehicle to effortlessly change directions without reversing.

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She further added that with this exciting announcement of the maiden run of our autonomous employee shuttle, we are adding to the progress this industry has seen over the last year and bringing Zoox one step closer to a commercialized purpose-built robotaxi service for the general public.”

The employee shuttle service will be offered exclusively to all Zoox full-time employees. The robotaxi is capable of transporting up to four people at a time on a public route between Zoox’s two main office buildings, traveling up to 35 mph, and handling left-hand and right-hand turns, bi-directional turns, traffic lights, cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, and other road agents on this route.

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