Where humans regularly fail their first pass of the exam, does the robotaxi fare better? This is what Hyundai wanted to test, with one of its Ioniq 5 robotaxis. A well-thought-out advertisement.
Submitting an autonomous vehicle to driving license tests is a process that may seem strange. However, the test is not without interest given an American (and global) public that is quite reluctant to these vehicles. Hyundai wants to emphasize that its robotaxis are at the level of human driving. In any case, this is what the brand hopes to demonstrate through this promotional video campaign unveiled on April 2.
The journey is of course planned in advance in the car. The robotaxi cannot (yet) hear any instructions from the inspector. Apart from this small arrangement compared to the normal driving test in the United States, the robotaxi was graded on the same criteria as any candidate in Las Vegas. The result: a perfect score for the car!
“I’m impressed,” the reviewer concluded.
The video introduces Kandice Jones, a certified driver’s license examiner for 25 years. A woman who does not hesitate to display a certain severity in issuing the precious sesame: out of 31,500 candidates tested, only 16% obtained their license. She specifies that she caused many students to fail “ in the interest of public safety “.
Hyundai here really wants to emphasize the exceptional nature of the prowess of its car.
When the time comes to ask her if she thinks the robotaxi can get her license, Kandice Jones does not hesitate to answer: “ I doubt “. Things were going badly for the robotaxi before the test. But like a Hollywood script, all’s well that ends well. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 robotaxi ticks all the boxes:
- Precise speed management,
- Avoidance maneuvers adapted to the situation,
- Lane changes with turn signals,
- Anticipation of the red light and the stop sign,
- Turn right at the traffic light (give way to the US),
- The same thing on the left to cross a large intersection,
- Reaction with emergency braking in front of pedestrians crossing in front of the vehicle.
No reproaches from the inspector were made against the driving and behavior of the robotaxi on this route carried out in the busy streets (and full of construction) of Las Vegas. The Hyundai robotaxi was issued the license on the first try.
Americans don’t trust self-driving cars
According to an annual study by the American Automobile Association, 73% of Americans do not trust these vehicles. We can even quite easily say that a certain distrust of these vehicles has developed. In San Francisco, where Waymo and Cruise already operate, demonstrations and sabotage are numerous. The image of the service is also often damaged by accidents or breakdowns. The situation seems a little less conflictual in Las Vegas where vehicles from the Korean manufacturer Hyundai are circulating.
Yet these robotaxis would be a solution for more than 5 million people in the United States who are unable to drive due to mental or physical problems. The Korean brand highlights it in this video by taking the example of a young blind woman. This car must be able to safely transport this young woman, despite her mother’s fear, thus giving her autonomy in her travels.
This is certainly what Elon Musk is also aiming for with his robotaxis project. Even if Elon Musk’s dreams have always highlighted autonomous technology before any ambition of service for humans. See you on August 8 to find out more about this new Tesla project.
It’s hard to imagine a future filled with robotaxis, but it remains a trend not to be underestimated. A subject to follow occasionally in our weekly Watt Else newsletter dedicated to the future of mobility.
Subscribe to Numerama on Google News so you don’t miss any news!