Tag Archives: ridesharing
Amazon’s bi-directional robotaxi brings autonomous ridesharing + safety to futuristic urban spaces
Driverless ride-sharing commute is what we are headed towards in the future, as one more exciting autonomous electric transport pod joins the likes of Nuro, Cruise Origin and Toyota e-Palette. Amazon-owned Zoox (acquired last year by Amazon) has been working relentlessly for six years towards its goal of bringing fully-autonomous robotaxi to the crowded urban landscape, which has finally been revealed. The on-demand ridesharing vehicle is “built for riders, not drivers,” as stated by the makers. According to Aicha Evans, Zoox CEO, “We are transforming the rider experience to provide superior mobility-as-a-service for cities. And as we see the alarming statistics around carbon emissions and traffic accidents, it’s more important than ever that we build a sustainable, safe solution that allows riders to get from point A to point B.” The all-electric four-wheeler looks quite polished and ready for the public roads, however, for now, it will be tested extensively on private roads before commuters can buy themselves a ride on-board the carriage-style vehicle having four seats facing each other.
Zoox is a conventional cube-shaped with a unique bi-directional ride sans any steering wheel – having the capability to smoothly navigate tight spaces without much fuzz since it comes with a 4 wheel independent suspension system. The fact that it can move in any direction (independent turning wheels) and does not need to reverse (remember it is bi-directional) gives it an advantage on urban roads as it measures just 3.63 meters. The interior of the autonomous ride has charging ports and a small display is quite minimalistic with emphasis on passenger safety as there are next-generation airbags enveloping the passengers, providing five-star safety standards by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. To further enhance the safety of the riders, the vehicle is decked in six LIDAR pucks, multiple sensors, and cameras for a 270-degree field of view – covering the blind spots and having the ability to see objects 150 meters away en route for a safe ride. And it can achieve a top speed of 70 miles per hour, so you can rest assured of arriving at your destination on time.
At the heart of the electric vehicle is a 133kWh battery pack that makes the vehicle operational for 10 hours continuously on a single charge. There is no official word on the mileage, but it would be safe to assume that it should be capable of delivering at least 300 miles after one recharge cycle. Zoox is currently being tested in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Foster City – and it will be commercially manufactured in the United States. For now, there is no word as to when you can hail a ride on this futuristic public transport vehicle, but the times look exciting in the coming years as Zoox looks the closest to commercializing its dream service.
Designer: Zoox
India’s new ride hailing rules cap driver hours and limit surge pricing
Lyft extends its Emergency Help feature to drivers and riders across the US
Uber’s expanded rewards program offers Apple Music and HBO Max perks
This electric scooter cleverly one ups Lime and Bird with a better city-friendly design!
As we return back to our lives outside quarantine, there are more vehicles on the road than before as people are scared to take the risk of using public transport again. Safety must always come first, but while we adjust to the new normal we must find sustainable alternatives for short distance commutes – at least in already crowded cities – that don’t make the air quality worse when we are battling a disease that hinders our breathing. For someone who would just take a subway for two stops to run an errand we need another solution than risky public transport or expensive electric cars. That’s where ridesharing with e-scooters comes in, a concept crafted for that ‘last mile’ commute when it is too far to walk but too short to take your car out for.
While this isnt a new thing in the world of Bird and Lime, Glide’s design has one key feature that puts it above its competitors – it is foldable! Why is this so important? You must have seen the rideshare scooters strewn all over the sidewalk causing clutter but with Glide, you have to dock it when its folded so it keeps the surrounding clean and hazard-free (I have tripped over three myself!). The design concept is focused on making the experience better for users and also for non-users – it relieves the contractors of having to collect scooters strewn all across the city to charge and put back, its modified design lets you dock your phone to navigate so you never have to use one hand to steer again, and adds details that makes it possible to easily carry your bags. Along with the body, the handlebars also fold down making it one compact, lightweight, sleek tube. The deck where you stand has been extended in Glide scooters to make space for your bag and secure it with a retractable strap. It also has a a shoulder strap which makes it portable unlike other risharing e-scooters.
Another detail that makes Glide a better choice is how it is docked when not in use. The e-scooter folds up into a cylinder and clasps around the rack which locks it in place as well as charges it. To unlock the e-scooter, the user simply has to tap their card or phone on the electronic ring. Glide comes with a fully integrated smart app that also lets you see where you can pick your e-scooter from in augmented reality. The design is also looking to seamlessly blend using these scooters in combination with public transport when it is safe again, so you can use your train or bus pass to also use your scooters – this system can reduce overall costs as well as encourage more people to choose an emission-free commute. Integration of Glide with a city’s public transport system will also transform the product from a ‘last mile’ solution to a more distance-friendly option. I think my favorite part is still the clutter-free sidewalks that I wont trip on!
Designer: Ruairi Phelan
