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Robo taxi demos how people and vehicle can talk to each other

Robo taxi demos how people and vehicle can talk to each other

Technology News |
By Christoph Hammerschmidt



In order to create high user acceptance and trust for driverless mobility solutions, Continental has developed a holistic solution for human-machine interaction especially for autonomous vehicles.

Continental’s communication solution was developed for the company’s driverless technology development platform, CUbE (Continental Urban Mobility Experience). Autonomous shuttle buses or robotic taxis, currently being tested on predefined routes, are intended to pave the way for tomorrow’s driverless vehicles, which can cope with complex, mixed traffic scenarios. Before robo taxis become part of everyday life on city streets, they must first gain the acceptance and trust of users. Properties such as safety, accessibility, comfort and an immersive experience on board should increase the acceptance of these vehicles and create the basis for a broad introduction.

The human-machine interface at hand, designed with an holistic approach in mind, is to lay the foundation for this. In the company’s opinion, the technologies used create a positive user experience throughout the entire application process, which goes far beyond booking trips and transporting passengers from A to B. The concept also supports users in planning their next route and provides information on relevant city events. Above all, the solution will convince passengers and pedestrians that their safety in and around the driverless vehicle is guaranteed. It also creates opportunities for smart cities and service providers to devise tailor-made mobility services.


“With this approach, Continental enables intuitive interaction between driverless vehicles, passengers and pedestrians,” explains Karsten Michels, Head of Systems & Technology in Continental’s Interior Division. “We create a continuous dialogue between people and vehicles and build user confidence. This is essential for the success of autonomous vehicles.”

At CES, Continental wants to show how robo taxi users can conveniently book a shuttle and reserve a seat via a smartphone app. While they wait for their ride, the position of the shuttle can be tracked continuously in the app. A personalized welcome message greets the user upon arrival of the shuttle, passengers see all route information, available local services and vehicle notifications on a large display in the vehicle arranged on a dynamic time axis. In addition to the display in the vehicle, the passengers are also informed acoustically about their driving status and events, along with ambient noises that are synchronized with the vehicle movement.

During the ride, the system provides relavant information to the users.

During the journey, information about sights as well as cultural and social events of the respective city are also displayed in real time. This creates opportunities for cities and service providers to reach their customers with tailor-made offers. Before arrival, the vehicle displays information about connecting journeys. Passengers are informed, for example, of the departure time of the next available means of transport or shuttles with which they can reach their other destinations.

The safety of passengers and pedestrians is the most important aspect of autonomous driving. If people are detected in the shuttle’s path, the vehicle issues a warning message via external screens and loudspeakers. The vehicle’s sensors register the presence of the pedestrian and validate this via an audiovisual interface that is compatible with certain visual impairments such as colour blindness. Among other things, the screens with information graphics display the sensor information to inform pedestrians or other vehicles that the shuttle has registered their presence. In addition, outside noises inform pedestrians that they have been detected in the vehicle’s lane and ask them to stay out of the way. If the vehicle stops to allow pedestrians to cross the road, passengers are notified accordingly.

 

Related articles:

GM Cruise raises $1B as it eyes robotaxi launch

Waymo to offer Walmart shoppers robo-taxi transport

Continental, EasyMile test “last mile” automated driving

Robo Taxi service launched on public roads in Singapore

Daimler tests robo taxis – on a platform from Bosch and Nvidia

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