‘Smooth journey’: UAE taxis drive in direction of autonomous future

Mustafa sits immobile behind the wheel, upturned palms in his lap, as his taxi drives itself, bringing the United Arab Emirates nearer to an autonomous future.

The “safety officer” is a part of a trial for driverless cabs within the capital Abu Dhabi, the place prospects will be picked up and dropped off at 9 pre-determined spots on Yas Island.

It’s been a “smooth ride” to this point, mentioned Mustafa, with no incidents that required any main intervention.

“In the past few days, we’ve had most customers order taxis from the mall or hotel,” he informed AFP.

Bayanat, a department of the Abu Dhabi-based Group 42 tech firm, final month launched the trial of 4 driverless vehicles, two electrical and two hybrid, beneath the title TXAI.

A second phase will embody at the very least 10 automobiles and a number of places throughout Abu Dhabi, the corporate mentioned. Customers can order the automobiles utilizing the TXAI app.

Robotaxis have been examined at numerous places around the globe in recent times, however industrial use of the automobiles has to this point been tentative.

Last month, autonomous cabs had been rolled out in Beijing, but additionally with a safety officer within the driver’s seat in case of an emergency.

Hasan al-Hosani, CEO of Bayanat, mentioned eradicating the protection officers can be a significant step.

“The milestone to move from L3 (where a safety officer is present) to L4 (without a safety officer) would be a big one,” Hosani informed AFP.

“The vehicles are already operational… We are collaborating with the authorities to further expand our operation area geographically, as well as to upgrade to L4 level.”

Abu Dhabi is just not the one member of the UAE eyeing a driverless future.

Neighbouring Dubai says it needs 25 p.c of all of its transport driverless by 2030, reducing prices, air pollution and accidents.

Dubai goals to launch a small fleet of self-driving taxis by 2023, based on state media, with plans to succeed in 4,000 by 2030.

The shift is anticipated to hit taxi drivers, the overwhelming majority Asian migrant employees, in a rustic the place foreigners make up 90 p.c of the 10-million inhabitants.

The UAE final month authorised a short lived licence to check self-driving vehicles on the roads, however there is no such thing as a federal legislation but governing autonomous automobiles.

This stays one of many greatest obstacles.

“This technology is new and regulations pertaining to safety and other operational aspects are being developed in real time,” mentioned Hosani.

© 2021 AFP