The autonomous vehicle operated by Continental, EasyMile’s long-time partner, is being demonstrated at the 2019 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. In the presence of EasyMile’s CEO and Founder, Gilbert Gagnaire, German Chancellor Angela Merkel boarded the EZ10.
The EZ10 Driverless Shuttle is operating in Germany (in demonstration drives), in Bad Birnbach, but also in Berlin at La Charité Hospital. More recently, also in the German capital, an EZ10 has been deployed in the Tegel Neighborhood, on a 1.2 km route, serving 4 stations since August and until the end of the year.
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The Robo-Taxi drives independently, a safety operator on board monitors the driving systems during the demonstration drives.
Continental says the technology for autonomous vehicles, which Continental and EasyMile use in the CUbE, is ready for series production. In just a few years, it says self-driving Robo-Taxis could become an important addition to existing mobility systems because they are environmentally friendly, flexible, safe and thus suitable for numerous transportation tasks.
The CUbE (which EZ10 is based on) is equipped with laser sensors, cameras and radar sensors. In this way, the location can be determined precisely and at the same time obstacles and potentially critical situations can be identified in good time. Proven products from high-volume passenger car production are intelligently integrated and modified, making them suitable for a completely new type of mobility.
Ralph Lauxmann, Head of Systems & Technology at Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division, is convinced that future mobility concepts will be multimodal and networked. “In the future, the intelligent interplay of different mobility options will be crucial. A Robo-Taxi such as the CUbE, which can transport several people and pick them up or drop them off individually, considerably reduces the need for infrastructure. Far fewer parking spaces, stops or entrances and exits will be required.” The areas won in this way could be used, for example, for green spaces, playgrounds or small parks.
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By GlobalDataContinental maintains that it is not only in large cities that driverless Robo-Taxis can be used comparatively cheaply and in an environmentally friendly way. This, Conti maintains, also applies to places where private vehicles have traditionally been used for everyday mobility: in small towns, villages and rural areas. Lauxmann adds: “Autonomous vehicles of every category can help to improve the quality of life because they enable individual mobility for everyone. With Robo-Taxis the visit to the doctor or the trip to the nearest shopping centre is easy and comfortable. In addition, these vehicles could easily deliver everyday supplies to the home.”
