Elon Musk-headed EV brand Tesla has launched self-driving taxis for ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas. It is a pilot project before the company can deploy mass taxis for service. Musk has emphasized that the future of the company lies in the robotaxi business.
It’s also the first time that popular EV maker Tesla has been paying passengers to enter self-driving taxis to reach their destinations. Although being a globally renowned company in the eco-friendly vehicles, Tesla hasn’t deployed autonomous vehicles before.
In its trial, the American company invited influencers to try out its robotaxis for a fare of $4.20. As has come out, a Tesla is able to take an order, pick up passengers, drop them at the designated place, and receive payment. Users can hail a ride on the Tesla robotaxi app.
The Texas law for autonomous vehicles defines robotaxis as having Level 4 automation (ADAS) capability. Level 5 is the highest conjured automation, which means a robotaxi can drive itself without any sort of human help. To compare, a Level 4 car can operate with no human intervention under specific conditions, meaning that it will still require human involvement for a safe operation.
Musk stresses safety measures for self-driving Tesla taxis
Musk has claimed that safety will be of paramount importance to Tesla for its self-driving car service. To maximize security and safety, Tesla will avoid harsh weather conditions, complex intersections, and won’t carry passengers under 18.
Tesla is also using only cameras to operate the safety system of robotaxis. This way, Musk says, its service will be far more affordable and safer.
Self-driving cars are still a risky business; however, it’s a technology that’s only bound to come into being as mainstream in the future. For it to be popular, though, more research and innovation, and trials must be carried out.
So far, safety has been a major concern for autonomous vehicle operation; however, people have entertained the idea of driverless cars taking passengers to their desired location.