Once dismissed as a futuristic dream, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are now rolling down the streets, carrying passengers without a driver. But the question remains: what are we actually going to do with them? Let’s dive into the topic with insights from three mobility specialists.
A Dream from the 2010s, or the Next Big Thing?
Remember the buzz around autonomous vehicles in the early 2010s? Everyone was talking about it. But then came the lull, and many of us thought they had vanished, consigned to the same category as those connected glasses and the metaverse. Fast forward to today—AVs are still very much alive, and they’re actually on the road! While the spotlight moved elsewhere, a number of companies have continued developing AV technology, refining it to a point where they can now transport the public safely, without a "safety driver" onboard.
From the streets of San Francisco to the bustling cities of China, autonomous mobility services are becoming part of daily life. But here's the real question: are we ready for them?
The Tesla Hype: Fact or Fiction?
Grégoire Bonnat, co-founder of Padam Mobility (acquired by Siemens), is quick to call out the overhyped claims made by Tesla. He points out, “Tesla is seen as the leader in autonomous vehicles, especially with their Robotaxi and Robovan presentations. But they’ve skipped using LiDAR, claiming it’s too expensive. Instead, they rely solely on cameras and image analysis. In my opinion, that’s a misstep. LiDAR’s cost has dropped significantly, and the data it provides is much richer.”
Bonnat adds that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is still stuck at Level 2-3 on the autonomy scale, far from the promises of fully autonomous vehicles. In comparison, Waymo, which operates a quieter service, has reached Level 4 autonomy and has been doing so since 2020. Waymo’s vehicles are already proving their worth, offering services in cities with a level of performance on par with human drivers.
Euronews, "Tesla's Cybercab autonomous vehicle revealed: Is this the ChatGPT moment for robotaxis?" Euronews Next.
What’s a Ride in a Robotaxi Really Like?
Xavier Tackoen, founder of Espaces-Mobilités, shares his hands-on experience from San Francisco and Phoenix: “We’ve taken dozens of robotaxi rides. After just 10 to 20 trips, when you hop back into an Uber, you immediately notice how much less efficient the human driver is. It’s pretty mind-blowing!”
The robotaxi experience is surprisingly smooth. Passengers are guided through the process by an app that plays calming elevator music, shows the vehicle’s views on two screens, and even explains what’s happening. “It’s like riding in a car with a mind of its own. The whole ride is so smooth that you forget you’re in a robot-driven vehicle,” Tackoen adds. However, challenges still remain—like picking up and dropping off passengers in tricky spots.
Can Robotaxis Go Everywhere?
Well, not quite. “They’re not zooming around on highways yet,” says Tackoen. In Phoenix, robotaxis can navigate fast roads like those around the airport, but in San Francisco, Waymo is still negotiating access to major roads. The vehicles stick to the routes that suit autonomous driving the best, respecting speed limits and never running a red light. This means they’re a little slower than your average Uber ride.
What’s Missing for Full Autonomy?
So, robotaxis are cruising along, but does that make them the future of public transport? According to Grégoire Bonnat, “We’ve got the technology, but we’re only halfway there. Running a public transport service with autonomous vehicles introduces a whole new set of challenges. What happens if a passenger has a problem or an emergency? What about people with reduced mobility, children, or passengers who try to exit the vehicle in the middle of traffic?”
These challenges go beyond the tech. Tackoen adds that companies like Waymo have been addressing these issues through tele-operations. If a vehicle encounters a problem, it can reach out to a remote operator who can assist—though the operator can't drive the car, they can give it instructions like, “Is the road ahead blocked by a fire?”
Who’s Behind the Scenes?
Grégoire Bonnat sees a shift happening in the way these services are operated: “American companies like Waymo and Cruise want to manage everything—from the vehicles to customer interactions. In contrast, some European players are looking at a more collaborative model, bringing together different partners for a more diverse and competitive ecosystem.”
Xavier Tackoen also highlights that scaling these services requires fine-tuned operations, from vehicle maintenance to real-time diagnostics. In the future, vehicles may be able to diagnose their own issues and even park or recharge themselves autonomously.
Is Autonomous Public Transport the Next Big Thing?
The idea of autonomous vehicles in public transport isn’t as far-fetched as it seems, but there’s still a long way to go. While urban areas with dense populations may not benefit as much from robotaxis, rural areas or on-demand services could see the greatest potential.
As Benjamin Beaudet, CEO of beti, points out, “We’re entering a new era for public transport. The future of mobility is now in the hands of transport authorities.” With the current driver shortages and limited public funds, it’s up to those authorities to decide if they’re ready to embrace this new wave of transportation.
Interested in learning more about autonomous vehicles and their impact on public transport? Check out the full article here.
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