The next-generation autonomous public transport by zoox
Zoox is an autonomous vehicle company having its headquarters in Foster City, California, United States. Amazon Inc. Zoox recently acquired the company is creating an entirely new form of Autonomous vehicle.
Besides, the company believes retrofitting autonomous vehicle modules to existing vehicles is not enough. So, they build an entirely new vehicle from the ground up. The company aims to manufacturer safer personal transport vehicles using clean energy. Zoox is also interested in making rides more enjoyable than before.
Furthermore, Zoox will provide mobility as a service in very densely populated urban areas. The driving, maintenance, charging, and upgrades are all handled by the company. The user needs to pay for the mobility service he utilizes. The company is currently testing its vehicles on public and private roads. Soon, it will start the Zoox ride-hailing service. It also got a license for this service.
The Vehicle
First of all, the name Zoox comes from Zooxanthellae. A creature that relies on renewable energy and has a symbiotic relationship with coral reefs. In the same way, Zoox runs on renewable energy and has a symbiotic relationship with people.
Zoox uses the latest technology in robotics, automotive, and clean energy to design the new vehicle. This new vehicle is symmetrical, bidirectional, and an entirely electric vehicle. So, it will definitely solve some unique problems autonomous vehicles generally face.
Besides, the company is aiming to reinvent personal transportation. It is actually a new experience of moving from one place to another place. So, you enjoy the relaxing smooth ride while Zoox will handle the traffic. In Zoox, every rider will have the same comfort level, while traditionally, it was impossible.
Furthermore, the premium materials inside look good and feel equally good. Zoox also has wireless charging. So, you can charge your phone on the go. You can also check arrival time, location, and route. Even you can control the music you want along with air. Hence, you get very personal experience on the fly.
Zoox and flexibility
Also, Zoox has four-wheel steering. So, it handles tight curves, u-turns and it also negotiates maneuvers very precisely. The vehicle has no driver space. Hence, more space for inside while the right compactness from outside. The vehicle is bidirectional. So, it can drop off and continue its journey seamlessly. The vehicle can alert road users with light and can emit sound signals to identify itself.
The vehicle has a 133 kWh battery that can last all day long on a single charge. The charging system is integrated into the vehicle itself, and it’s a completely hands-free process. The dual-motor setup does its duties where it is very much needed.
The Autonomous Technology
The hardware and software are entirely done in-house. Hence, the company doesn’t need to compromise on anything. So, you get the best of the best experience possible.
The Zoox vehicles have sensor architecture. This architecture is comprised of radars, lidars, cameras to have a look at its surroundings. The placement of the sensor provides an overlapping 360-degree field of view. Such a view provides redundancy and awareness of the surroundings. The vehicle can see 150 meters away in all directions. Zoox has a powerful computing system with backups. Hence, vehicles can make quick decisions wherever needed.
Furthermore, the vehicle uses predefined geometric and semantic maps for easy navigation on the streets. The inbuilt perception software identifies everyone on the road, including vehicles, other road users, and pedestrians. The prediction system uses machine learning to predict what people and vehicles do next. Besides, the planning and control system moves Zoox easily in highly populated areas.
A new standard in safety
Safety and innovation both come together to create a new way of transportation at Zoox. Shifting entirely to autonomous vehicles leads to fewer accidents, making the commute safer.
Furthermore, safety is not only important to occupants. It is actually crucial to other road users as well. Zoox is taking safety to the next level by thinking about safety holistically. So, every single design change at Zoox comes with safety first in mind.
We need a proactive safety culture. In the past, for almost 100 years, road safety has been reactive.
Dr. Mark Rosekind, Chief Safety Innovation Officer, Zoox.
The prevent and protection is the new safety strategy at Zoox. 94% of the accident cases are due to human errors. The company is using technology to prevent every possible crash. The company is designing a new airbag that protects occupants by cushioning around the head, neck, and chest. So, it’s a totally new design layout of the traditional airbags.
Furthermore, the vehicle scans the surrounding in real-time by radar, lidar, and cameras. It also has overlapping 360degree sensor fields. The company is aiming for a 5-star crash rating for all the occupants inside the vehicle.
Also, the powertrain and battery design have no single point of failure. The bidirectional steering system acts as a backup in case of any failure.
So, Zoox is reimagining the travel we do every day. The innovative approach to commute will definitely make all the difference. We are sure the future will be safe for occupants and other road users, thanks to technology.
Watch zoox in action:
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