Uber brings the progress of taxis without drivers in the UK

Uber will try Robotaxis – autonomous cars without a human safety driver – in London next spring.

The driving app will work with the United Kingdom Artificial Intelligence Company (AI), which tests technology on the streets of the city with human supervision, in accordance with this legislation.

The announcement comes after the UK government has changed its rules for cars without drivers again.

Initially, it aimed at coming to the British roads in 2026, after which the date was changed to the second half of 2027.

But now it is said that it is introducing an accelerated frame for small autonomous buses and fees such as “commercial services to start them earlier.

It is not yet clear whether the vehicles in the Uber test will be available to customer use – the company says it is still developing the details.

He said he intended to add them as a regular option through his application in the UK as soon as the legislation allows.

The transportation department says the industry can create 38,000 jobs and add £ 42 billion to the UK economy by 2035.

But speaking to the BBC last month, GMB Andy Prendergast’s national secretary said that “significant social consequences” cars and taxis can have – including unemployment – should also be completely considered.

Uber launches the Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas in March and said vehicles without a driver could operate 20 hours a day, seven days a week.

Customers there can choose whether to take robotaxes, if any, regardless of the tariff. Tesla plans to launch a competitive service in the same city in June.

Completely driving, drivers have made millions of miles on public roads and in other countries, including China, the UAE and Singapore, but whether they are more or less safe than human-controlled people are still investigating.

Numerous studies suggest that automated vehicles are less prone to human driver accidents based on US data.

But there are a number of incidents involving robotaxis in countries where they work, ranging from road accidents to passengers.

And a service in San Francisco was canceled after a series of malfunctions.

In May, I was riding in a car equipped with Wave’s autonomous kit in Central London. We had a human safety driver, but he did not have to use controls once during our 30 -minute trip.

The car coped with any potential danger that appeared in the busy streets, including congestion, temporary traffic lights, cyclists and at one point a pedestrian using crutches in the middle of the road.

The Ford Mach-E was equipped with sensors and radar, and the AI-supplied system controlled the vehicle’s answers in real time.

If nothing else, it was much more preferable than a human driver, which made a soothing unobstructed trip.