Autonomous robotaxis are set to cruise the streets of major UK cities within the next three years. Verne, a radical self-driving cab from Croatian automotive firm Rimac will have no steering wheel, pedals or a dashboard as it ferries people around the town.
The two-seat electric hatchback promises to be more spacious than a Rolls-Royce, according to The Sun.
Instead of traditional drivers’ seat with a steering wheel and pedals, there is more leg room to stretch out for a comfortable ride. The dashboard has been replaced with 43-inch screen where passengers can play video games or watch films on the way to their destination.
Verne designer Adriano Mudri said: “We wanted to make the interior less automotive and more like a living room.” Mudri added that the car will have two seats over four because “nine out of 10 rides are used by one or two people”.
The unconventional ride will be available to order through an app where you can also choose the temperature of the salon in advance. Passengers will even be able to pick the scent of the car ahead of time, the company claims.
Travellers won’t have to worry about cancellations or long wait times either as Verne are built to operate 23.5 hours a day – with half an hour left for re-charge. Each city will build a “mothership” where the cars will be based, cleaned and charged for the next ride.
The materials used in the cabin have also been engineered to be both lightweight and durable enough to withstand travelling over 62,000 miles annually. Meanwhile, the sliding doors ensure there is no obstruction to traffic as you get off the car.
Verne will be running on Mobileye technology to drive safely by using a variety of sensors, including lidar, radar and cameras to monitor its environment.
This system is designed with redundancy in mind, meaning each component can run independently in case of a malfunction. The smell sensors will ensure the taxi stays clean and fresh between each passenger while salon cameras take a picture of you both before and after you’re dropped off.
(Pic – Rimac)
