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Can robo-taxis become a reality?

Robo-taxis are self-driving cars that use cameras, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence, and complex coding to drive without the help of a human driver. There are two types of self-driving cars: fully autonomous cars and semi-autonomous cars. While fully autonomous cars don’t need any human intervention, semi-autonomous cars require human input while driving. Over the years, there has been significant improvement in the technology of autonomous cars. People are now starting to accept the concept of self-driving cars. With the acceptance of self-driving cars for personal use, it is only a matter of time before these vehicles would make their way to the commercial market. In fact, some companies have already started working on robo-taxies.

The two major companies in San Francisco working on self-driving cars are Google-run Waymo and General Motors-backed Cruise. These companies faced a lot of challenges in gaining the state’s approval to use robo-taxis on the roads. There have been many traffic accidents while testing the functionalities of robo-taxis, like the vehicle driving into wet cement. However, after many trials and errors, robo-taxis have come a long way and are now safer and more practical. Considering this, we can safely assume that the concept of robotic taxis can become a reality in the near future. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about robo-taxis, including how they function as well as the benefits and challenges associated with them. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it!


How do Robo-taxis Function?

Robo-taxis function by using a complicated array of technology. This includes Light Detection and Ranging (also known as LiDAR), multidirectional cameras, a laser scanning system that scans and shows a map of the surrounding areas, and artificial intelligence, which functions as the brain of the car. Basically, robotic taxis collect data from their surroundings using sensors, and AI analyses this data to instruct these autonomous vehicles to drive.

For a robo-taxi, common situations like following traffic lights and maintaining a lane are quite simple and easy. The challenge starts with complex traffic congestion on roads and various unexpected obstacles.


Benefits of Robo-taxis

There are a lot of benefits to having robo-taxis on the roads. For instance, the introduction of robotic taxis can reduce the number of human drivers on the road, which can significantly reduce traffic congestion and road accidents. As a result, the roads will become safer for both passengers as well as pedestrians.

Robo-taxis can also deliver more convenient and efficient transportation, as customers will have the power to call one at any time and at any location. Aside from this, robo-taxis will also be able to send information to one another, which will avoid collisions and traffic congestion. Above all, the introduction of robo-taxis will significantly reduce the traveling cost as the customers would only have to pay for the service, not the driver.


Challenges with Robo-taxis

Although robo-taxis can offer a lot of advantages, there are some technical problems that must be sorted out before they can come to the mainstream market. The very first thing a robotic taxi needs is a high-resolution map that is extremely detailed and accurate in order to ensure reliable and safe navigation. Moreover, the need for an object detector is very important to avoid collisions and accidents. Another problem is that if there is a collision between robo-taxis, who will take responsibility for it, and who will be at fault for it? Furthermore, if the robo-taxis send each other information about their location and destination, then the privacy of the passengers can be compromised. The biggest question at the moment is whether a robo-taxi is able to make the right decision at a crucial moment like a human. For example, if there are two obstacles in front of the car leading to a possible collision, a human and an object, which one will the car more likely avoid?


Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, the future of robo-taxis is real, and over a period of time, it will definitely become a reality. However, until companies clear up the questions and ambiguities behind the robo-taxi system, these self-driving cars cannot be fully functional on the roads without the presence of a human operator. Moreover, there are a lot of laws that need to be formed for the robo-taxis to function smoothly on the roads.

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