Motional has unveiled its next-generation robotaxi, which is based on the recently released Hyundai Ioniq 5. Set to begin transporting passengers in 2023 through Lyft, the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle, which will mean that it can operate fully autonomously in certain circumstances and maintains controls that can be operated by a human.
With more than 30 sensors, a combination of cameras, radar, and LiDAR, the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi is designed to have externally visible sensors to make it clear to other road users that it’s an autonomous vehicle. That sensor data will be fed into Motional’s driverless technology, which utilizes machine learning to enable the vehicle to navigate tricky driving situations.
Inside, the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi will have a suite of rider-focused interfaces to make interacting with the vehicle easier. Through it, riders will be able to request an extra stop and make other such requests. Motional worked with Hyundai throughout the design process to ensure that its technology was fully integrated into the Ioniq 5’s platform. The collaboration not only means that the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi will be reliable, it means it will also be cheaper to manufacture, which should allow Motional to expand its services faster, once it’s ready to do so.
With redundancies for every important function (including braking, accelerating, steering, and navigation), Motional and Hyundai claim the vehicle has safety built-in. Remote vehicle assistance will also allow an operator to control the robotaxi from outside the vehicle in case it comes up against an unexpected or unusual scenario.
