Motional, the joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, has unveiled its next-generation robotaxi, based on Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 electric vehicle.
The IONIQ 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle that can be operated without a driver. The vehicle has zero tailpipe-emissions and will fuse electrification and autonomy to make cars smarter, safer and more sustainable, the company said.
(Learn more about the levels of self-driving cars at Globalspec.com.)
The IONIQ 5 robotaxi will be Motional’s first commercial vehicle and the company plans to begin transporting public passengers in 2023 through its partnership with Lyft. Announced late last year, the driverless vehicles will be integrated, operated and deployed on the Lyft network. Currently, the companies have a pilot project in Las Vegas to test the self-driving cars to prepare for a larger project in multiple cities.
Robotaxi features
The robotaxi has more than 30 sensors including cameras, radars and lidar that provide 360° perception, high resolution images and ultra-long-range detection of objects for the car to identify objects in its environment.
Additionally, the robotaxi includes machine learning systems to allow the vehicle to safely navigate complex driving situations. The interior will feature a suite of rider-focused interfaces to allow passengers to interact with the vehicle such as directing the vehicle to make an extra stop.
