robot taxis take flight

The very first robot taxis in commercial service are rolling in China, in Yangquan. There is still a driver behind the wheel just in case, but the vehicle is completely autonomous and can be controlled from anywhere via an app. Ten smart taxis are in circulation and there are already regulars. “You feel safe, it’s fast and efficient and the car always stops when there is an obstacle”says Li Zeping, resident of Yangquan ​(China).

A Chinese company has obtained its first licenses to operate these driverless taxis, a technology that has been tested for a long time. A radar is placed on the roof, as well as sensors, capable of analyzing the data. “These vehicles are programmed to comply 100% with traffic laws. They detect danger faster than the human eye and react faster than a driver”, says Xu Chao, director of intelligent transport at Baidu. Autonomous electric buses are still being tested.