Wemo has launched its driverless robot-taxi service in Arizona

Wemo, self-driving unit Alphabet, It said Thursday it was serving Its completely driverless robot-taxis To all Customers of its ride-healing service In Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, the company only endured Part of it is a set of unmanned cars for a few hundred people Initial Rider Program The beginning In 2017.

To get started, the company is just getting started These are The Ride-Healing app serves existing customers on the Wemo One, but they are free to bring family and friends along on the trip, CEO John Krafsik said A blog post. From Thursday, any Vemo One customer can get a driverless minivan from company aircraft with more than 300 vehicles.. In the coming weeks, That is Plans to invite more participants to sign up Application (it There is a weightlist Used to make the company vet New riders). The company’s self-driving services operate Approx An area of ​​100 square miles southeast of Phoenix, which includes towns Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe, but its completely driverless cars are limited to one service The area is about half the size.

So far, only riders have been allowed inside Weimos Driverless vehicles Its members Early riders Then program They Signed an undisclosed agreement prohibiting them from speaking publicly about their experience. According to Krafsik, 5-10% of Wemo’s rides are Completely driverless. In December, the The company reported approx 1,500 monthly active users In its Vemo One app.

“In the near future, 100% of our rides will be completely driverless,” Krafsik said Thursday, although he did not specify. Timeline. “We hope our new complete driverless service has become very popular and we thank our riders for their patience as we increase the availability to meet demand. ”

In March, Wemo Suspended Its self-driving services In Phoenix area Due to the spread of Kovid-19, but has since resumed operations Extra security Precautions. Krafsik As part of the response to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, the company plans to complete the addition of vehicle barriers between the front row of seats and the passenger cabin later this year before reintroducing its security drivers (trained contractors). Who, as Their title indicates the context in which the autonomous vehicle is encountered It is an unmanageable condition.) Wemo It also plans on “reintroducing rides with a trained vehicle operator”, which will add capacity and enable us to serve a larger geographical area. He sHelp.