A car with no front or back that has no steering wheel: What San Francisco's next robotaxis could look like [View all]

The toaster box-shaped robotaxi that pulls into a parking space outside a waterfront office park in Foster City resembles a carriage more than a conventional car.

The vehicle is symmetrical and almost half the width of a sport utility vehicle, but taller than a typical sedan. It has no steering wheel or pedals. There are no front seats. Or back seats. Rather, the driverless car manufactured by Amazon’s Zoox features inward-facing chairs, similar to taxicabs in London, for four passengers. Sliding doors opened by touch screens provide entry to the unique chariot.

On a 2-mile loop of quiet public roads, the Zoox robotaxi drives at speeds of up to 35 mph (it’s designed to drive up to 75 mph), making a left turn tighter than a regular car at a stop-light intersection before pulling into another parking spot.

On the way back, the robotaxi doesn’t have to make a three-point turn to back out of its parking space. Because it’s bidirectional, what was considered its rear now becomes the robotaxi’s front and it simply drives out of the lot.

Link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/sf-robotaxis-zoox-amazon-19549968.php



"Be sure to check all personal belongings before exiting the ride."