This is how the Hyundai Ioniq 5 works as a robotaxi in Las Vegas

The challenge of autonomous driving still seems quite distant. But the truth is that the technology that can make it a reality is well advanced, and there are several projects set to launch this type of mobility shortly. It was at the Las Vegas CES, held recently, where several of these proposals were showcased, mainly aimed at public transport.

One of these projects, which will be ready shortly, is the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which will begin operating as an autonomous taxi at the end of 2023. This vehicle is called the Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi and will be ready within a few months to provide taxi services in a city as complex as Las Vegas.

An autonomous taxi in Las Vegas

The taxi will have to navigate one of the most complex cities in the United States. It is a city with very heavy traffic, and its streets are filled with so much illuminated advertising that it is difficult to tell what is real and what is not. There are also multi-lane roads, so a very sophisticated system is required to make every journey safe.

In addition, Hyundai highlights the special characteristics of Las Vegas: street performances by costumed pedestrians, limousines much longer than usual, and vans with billboards that make it harder to move through the streets of Las Vegas. Another challenge facing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi is picking up and dropping off customers at the many hotels and casinos in the city.

The access areas to these establishments are usually crowded with people and vehicles, so it is difficult to reach the designated zones. To overcome these challenges, the various Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxis that will operate in Las Vegas will use 30 sensors and an onboard computer, which enable Level 4 autonomous driving.

This means they will be able to move freely around the city, but they keep physical controls so that any driver can take over if necessary.

A shared solution

This initiative comes from Hyundai, although the Korean company will not be the only one involved. The fleet will be operated by Motional, which will rely on Uber’s platform to manage the services. After launching in Las Vegas, the automated service will be rolled out in other US cities, starting with Los Angeles.

It is not the only one planned, as other US cities may also use it, such as Cruise, promoted by General Motors in San Francisco, and Waymo at several points in the same Californian city and in Phoenix. In the following video you can see how the Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi works. Would you use it?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bmATu3YAqXY&feature=shares

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverHyundai IONIQ 58 versions · from 44,670 €