The United Arab Emirates are introducing autonomous driverless taxi vehicles into public transportation, known as robotaxis, offering passengers in Abu Dhabi a unique experience during free trial rides.
The vehicles are equipped with a package of sensors and ten cameras to detect traffic signs and signals. There is also an emergency button inside the vehicles.
Authorities in the UAE aim to expand the fleet of driverless taxis, hoping to integrate it into the national transportation network. Currently, the service is free, and its future pricing will depend on the robotaxi program regulated by the UAE government.
The smart transportation project currently includes a fleet of 8 autonomous vehicles. With over 5,000 registered users, the autonomous vehicles have successfully completed 17,000 trips, providing transportation services to residents and tourists.
In addition to robotaxis, the sustainable project involves four robobuses that were introduced into local transportation services in November 2022.
Photo: DMT – Abu Dhabi