Waymo, Google’s former self-driving cars division, has unveiled the concept of a self-driving car without a rudder.
The developers plan that the electric minivan with a low body and a pair of sliding doors will join Waymo One's commercial self-driving taxi service in the United States in the coming years.
Usually, self-driving car testing starts with testing algorithms in a simulation.
Then the prototype of the vehicle is tested on a closed training ground under the supervision of an engineer who is ready to take over the controls.
After that, the car goes out into the streets, but still with a driver.
In some regions, developers can ask the authorities for permission to test without a driver behind the wheel.
Waymo launched self-driving tests on public roads in 2017 without test drivers in the front seats in Arizona, and a year later in California.
The company also operates a commercial self-driving taxi service Waymo One in Arizona, also without drivers since last year.
The concept of a car without steering wheel and pedals originated with Waymo, even when it was a division of Google.
She designed Google Fireflys without controls and tested them on public roads in California.
True, at the time of testing, the cars were equipped with a steering wheel and pedals.
In 2015, Google cars even promised to start mass production.
But becoming a stand-alone company, Waymo ditched the mandatory concept of a steering wheel and pedal-less vehicle.
Waymo revealed the concept of a new unmanned vehicle without a rudder on December 28.
It was designed in Sweden by Zeekr, a brand of the Chinese automaker Geely.
It is an all-electric minivan with a low body and a pair of sliding doors on both sides.
The absence of a steering wheel and pedals allowed for more legroom and reclining seats.
The technical characteristics of the vehicle have not been specified. Zeekr will also build them.
The developers hope that rudderless minivans will join Waymo One in the US in the coming years. The exact timing depends on the US authorities.
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