Hyundai reveals Ioniq 5 robotaxi

Hyundai has announced a driverless Ioniq 5 ‘robotaxi’, engineered in collaboration with autonomous technology firm Motional. The vehicle boasts Level 4 autonomous capabilities, which means it can drive itself in most circumstances, leaving the driver free to take their hands off the steering wheel. The cars are expected to begin carrying passengers in 2023 in a partnership with the US ride-hailing service Lyft.

To do this, the robotaxi is fitted with more than 30 sensors, including cameras, radars and lidar to provide ‘360-degree perception, high-resolution images and ultra-long-range detection of objects for safe autonomous operation in diverse driving environments.’ It’s also equipped with machine learning that’s based on decades of real-world data, according to Motional.

Safety has been considered ‘across every function’, with the ability to provide Remote Vehicle Assistance (RVA) if a robotaxi encounters an ‘unusual road scenario’ it doesn’t know how to handle. This could include roadworks or flooding, and means that a Motional operator can connect to the vehicle and direct it to avoid obstacles, allowing it to continue along its journey.

“This robotaxi represents Motional’s vision of a driverless future becoming a reality,” said Motional President and CEO Karl lagnemma. “Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, we have unparalleled automotive and software expertise across our entire vehicle development process. This deep collaboration enables us to manufacture a robotaxi that’s both highly safe and reliable and is cost-optimised for global production. We’re focused on mass commercialisation, and the Ioniq 5 robotaxi is built for that purpose.”