IAA Mobility 2021: Hyundai Ioniq 5 becomes a robotaxi
The Korean automaker Hyundai and Motional, a company that claims to be a world leader in autonomous driving, have announced the unveiling of the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi at IAA Mobility. Based on the all-electric E-model, which has been available on the German market since June, they aim to realize a vehicle at SAE Level 4 that can be operated safely without a driver. The Ioniq-5 Robotaxi is also Motional's first commercial vehicle and represents a milestone in the company's development planning, according to the manufacturer. The robotaxi specialist intends to begin transporting passengers with the Hyundai model in collaboration with the ride-hailing service Lyft in 2023.
Recognizable as an autonomous vehicle
The vehicle's technology should be visible from the outside. The sensor package of the vehicle was not concealed but clearly distributed across the exterior to ensure distinction in traffic. The more than 30 sensors from cameras, radar, and lidar are designed to ensure reliable 360-degree detection of the surroundings, deliver high-resolution images, and recognize objects at a very great distance. This aims to enable a disruption-free autonomous operation in various environments. The provider relies on its proven technology, which has been trained with data from real road traffic over several decades and is supposed to master complex situations, it further states.
E-GMP platform with plenty of space for passengers
The basis is the production vehicle on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is supposed to offer passengers a spacious interior. The vehicle also features a number of interfaces through which passengers can intuitively interact with the E-CUV, for example, to make the robotaxi take an extra stop.
Hardware and software go hand in hand
The IONIQ 5 robotaxi, designed for driverless operation from the beginning, was created in a partnership between Hyundai and Motional, with the Koreans contributing research and development capabilities as well as their expertise in global vehicle manufacturing, and Motional bringing in driverless technologies. As a result, hardware and autonomy software should work together in sync. The ultra-fast charging times and the long ranges of the E-GMP are expected to be another aspect for successful operation; in addition, the concept is scalable worldwide, which is also important for a profitable use of the expensive technology.
Double redundancy ensures better reliability: All functions safeguarded with redundancies
Every function, whether navigation, steering, braking, or propulsion, has safety redundancies to always enable a safe and trouble-free ride, the manufacturer reassures to gain trust. Motional also offers remote support for the vehicle if the robotaxi encounters unusual road conditions, such as a roadway closure due to construction.
"Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, we have unparalleled expertise in vehicles and software throughout the development process. This deep collaboration enables us to produce a robotaxi that is both safe and reliable, as well as cost-optimized for global production. We focus on mass marketing, and the Ioniq 5 robotaxi is designed precisely for that," believes Karl Iagnemma, President and CEO of Motional.
Woongjun Jang, head of the Autonomous Driving Center of Hyundai Motor Group, sees another important milestone reached on the path to marketing the robotaxi after the integration of Motional's autonomous technologies.
Joint venture consolidates competencies
Motional was founded in March 2020 and is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, a technological leader in advanced safety, electrification, and vehicle connectivity. The Motional team has built up its expertise in driverless technology over decades and simultaneously has, in its own view, unrivaled experience in commercial robotaxi services. The company has already transported hundreds of thousands of passengers with its self-driving service in the Lyft network in Las Vegas and is also the only company of its kind to work with two major ride-hailing companies: Lyft and Via. As a result, a fully driverless service will start in the Lyft network in 2023. Ioniq robotaxis will be distributed across various cities in the USA, marking a turning point for autonomous driving and laying the foundation for establishing robotaxis worldwide, the provider believes.
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