Amazon Zoox Robotaxi: The world of artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly and now its impact is clearly visible in the transportation sector as well. In this, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company Zoox has achieved a major milestone. Let us tell you that America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved Zoox’s driverless robotaxi for limited commercial use. This decision is being considered a big step for self-driving technology, although many questions regarding safety still remain.
Zoox Robotaxi receives limited commercial approval
NHTSA has granted Amazon-owned Zoox permission to launch its unique robot axios into limited commercial service. NHTSA official Jonathan Morrison stated that Zoox will be able to operate 2,500 robot axios annually for the next two years, starting in Las Vegas, USA.
Zoox’s Robotaxi is quite different from traditional cars. Its design resembles an electric carriage with facing passenger seats on both sides. It lacks a traditional steering wheel or driver’s seat, and its top speed is reported to be around 120 kilometers per hour.
AI will drive cars, but safety is the biggest challenge
It is being seen that the biggest concern regarding driverless vehicles is their safety and reliability. For this reason, NHTSA has already directed the companies manufacturing autonomous vehicles to address potential technical flaws. In the recent past, several incidents have come to light in which robot axios were seen passing school buses incorrectly, entering construction areas, stopping on flooded roads, or violating traffic rules. Such cases may raise questions about the safety of this technology.
105 Robotaxi had to be recalled earlier as well
For your information, due to safety issues, Zoox had to recall 105 of its Robotaxi and update their software. Now, with the new approval, the agency has made it clear that if similar technical glitches arise in the future, strict action can be taken against the company. Experts believe that AI-based driverless vehicles can change the future transportation system, but before adopting them on a large scale, continuous monitoring of all aspects related to safety rules and trust will be necessary.