Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Amazon’s autonomous vehicle unit Zoox is set to expand its testing operations to two Austin, Texas, and Miami, Florida. The latest expansion to Austin and Miami marks the fourth and fifth public testing sites for the company.
The company first began testing in its home city of San Francisco in 2018, followed by expansions to Las Vegas in 2019 and Seattle in 2021.
Zoox’s testing approach in Austin and Miami will begin with a mapping mission, followed by the deployment of retrofitted Toyota Highlander vehicles equipped with safety drivers.
Initial testing will focus on small areas near business and entertainment districts, allowing the company to gather valuable insights and feedback, according to a statement from Zoox.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating incidents involving self-driving Toyota Highlanders operated by Zoox.
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In two recent cases, the autonomous vehicles suddenly and unexpectedly braked, leading to rear-end collisions with motorcyclists. One of the crashes resulted in minor injuries to a motorcyclist, while the other incident injured a Zoox safety driver.
The testing process in Miami and Austin will involve navigating specific pre-planned routes designed to challenge the autonomous system with a variety of driving scenarios. As the AI becomes more accustomed to the local conditions, the testing areas will gradually expand.
“We’re laying the foundations for our autonomous ride-hailing service in new cities across the US. Austin and Miami offer key learning opportunities that will support the continued growth and refinement of our testing and service,” stated Ron Thaniel, Zoox‘s Senior Director of Policy & Regulatory Affairs.
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Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
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