Hyundai is using the media attention generated by this week’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas to give more details and show what its driverless autonomous vehicles are capable of.
Developed by Motional, a joint venture of Korean automaker and mobility provider Aptiv (formerly Delphi), these “robotaxis” – as they are often called – are based on the IONIQ 5 electric crossover. They are currently completing their road testing of the world’s sinful capital and will , if all goes well, put into service towards the end of the year.
Why did you choose Las Vegas? For the approximately 42 million (pre-pandemic) tourists who come to the city each year and spend their time between the hotel and the many attractions, taking a taxi is a much more attractive solution than driving your own vehicle or the Renting a vehicle the heavy traffic, parking difficulties and the various obstacles that may appear on the way, for example pedestrians or street musicians suddenly encroaching on the roadway.
It’s also a good challenge for a driverless taxi, but Hyundai’s are equipped with more than 30 sensors and cameras, as well as special computers and software to process an astronomical amount of data at high speed.
As you can see in the pictures and video above, these devices are usually installed in a large roof box. They are also located on both ends and on the sides near the mirrors. Of course, they give the IONIQ 5 a very different look than the production model, but in a city where you often see vehicles that are out of the ordinary, like SUVs turned into limousines and advertising trucks of all kinds, nobody cares.
By the way, you’ve probably noticed that there’s always a steering wheel on board. Hyundai states that it is a level 4 (out of a scale of 5) autonomous vehicle, meaning it retains the possibility for a real driver to intervene in the event of a problem.
After the IONIQ 5 robotic taxis become operational in Las Vegas in 2023, it will be Los Angeles’ turn, then other cities in the United States and elsewhere around the world, from Boston to Singapore – where laws and conditions permit, of course.