Self-driving taxis developed by British company Wayve have become available for booking in London through the Uber app. A total of 15 vehicles are ready for trips, but since the service has about 100,000 users in the city, those wishing to use it must join a virtual queue.
According to The Times, even those who get an electric Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with radar and multiple cameras will not be able to ride alone. The company does not yet have permission to operate robotaxis without a human; each vehicle will have a driver, or "safety operator" as Wayve calls them. The operator will not keep hands on the wheel but will always be ready to take control.
A Times reporter who rode in such a taxi said the driver must remain silent throughout the trip so passengers can imagine they are riding without one. However, immediately after the passenger gets in, the driver gives a brief briefing, explaining that they will not talk and are ready to switch to manual control at the client's request. For this, a large red button is installed on the central console.
Wayve was founded in 2017 by two Cambridge University graduates. The technology relies on a self-learning autonomous driving system using artificial intelligence.
