While Tesla envisions an amazing future full of self-driving vans and mobile buses, independent software company Oxa has Ford E-Transit fully electric vans operating on UK and US roads. today.
“It's exciting to see Tesla's Robotaxi launch … including the Robovan. But why wait?” Those are the words of Oxa's Vice Director Strategic Partnerships & Universal Vehicle Autonomy, Paul Reynolds, on LinkedIn – and it's hard to argue with the idea that if a self-driving van is a good idea five years from now, it is. beautiful today.
And Oxa says it has a self-driving van today that is ready to fulfill the promise of that idea.
Oxa's self-driving hardware is designed to fit perfectly on the exterior of the popular Ford E-Transit van without intruding into the van's interior. That means airlines will be able to integrate self-driving vans into existing fleets without the need to redesign their existing upfit solutions – a key part of the overall puzzle for fleet managers.
That also means the self-driving Oxa-powered Ford E-Transit can be configured to do everything ICE Transits can do, and provide logistics (delivery van), commercial (work van), and passenger/transit services. (up to 10 seats in the passenger E-Transit trim – which we haven't found here in the US).
“Making the Ford E-Transit available for autonomous operation is the next step in our journey to deliver safe, secure and sustainable autonomous solutions,” explained Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa. “This vehicle represents a milestone in our mission to reshape the future of passenger and freight transportation.”
The Oxa E-Tranist self-driving van is equipped with a full suite of sensors to “get on the road,” including high-definition cameras, lidars, and radar sensors. Oxa's hardware sends full 360-degrees' visibility and long-range detection to the system's processors, enabling autonomous operation at electronically limited speeds of up to 35 mph in mixed traffic. The Transit's manual controls are fully maintained, too, allowing for seamless transitions to human performance in adverse/edge situations.
Electrek's Take
There are a dozen ways a self-driving electric van like this could make life better for students, seniors, and people with limited mobility right now — and, given the reality (and poor track record) of it. the rest company when it comes to its delivery yours robotic taxi promises, it seems wise to give the Oxa solution a look.
Check out the video, above, and let us know how you think it compares to last month's Hollywood launch party in the comments.
SOURCE | PHOTOS: ox.
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