US Safety Agency Probes Amazon’s Zoox Over Self-Driving Car Crashes

May 14, 2024

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the US government is looking into Amazon’s self-driving robot cab unit, Zoox. This comes after two cases in which the robotaxis suddenly slowed down and was hit from behind by motorcyclists. One rider and a Zoox vehicle operator were slightly hurt in the accidents, which happened during the day.

Zoox’s Automated Driving System

Zoox’s automated driving technology was looked at closely after it was proven to have been in self-driving mode before the crashes. The review will look at how well it did during the accidents and how it behaved around crosswalks, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users. Zoox reported the accidents because that’s what was asked of companies that make self-driving cars in 2021.

Amazon’s Acquisition of Zoox

Zoox was bought by Amazon in June 2020 in a deal worth more than $1 billion. In 2023, the company said that tests of its one-of-a-kind four-person bus, which took workers along a mile-long route between two Zoox buildings, went well. The self-driving car doesn’t have a turning wheel or pedals. Inside, it looks like a carriage and has benches facing each other. It’s just under 12 feet long. Zoox was only going to offer this shuttle service to its workers.

More About Amazon’s self-driving robotaxi unit

Zoox is the name of Amazon’s self-driving car unit. In December 2020, it showed off a fully self-driving robotaxi that was made for crowded cities. This electric car doesn’t have a turning wheel, can go in any direction, and can fit up to four people. With a top speed of 75mph, it can run for 16 hours on a single charge. The radar, laser, and cameras that Zoox has allow it to see up to 150 meters in all directions. It’s also the first car that meets US safety standards for cars without human controls.

Notes on Automated driving system developed by Zoox

Zoox is an American company famous for its fully autonomous driving system that works on going in both directions and robotics theory. Amazon bought Zoox in the year 2020. Unlike regular self-driving cars, Zoox vehicles are made to work without any help from a person. The first one can go up to 75 mph and is good for 16 hours on a single charge. The car has more than 100 safety features that regular cars don’t have, and it’s the first in the US to get government approval for logistics operations. It has a new way to find the driver or a passenger by combining sensors and using machine learning.

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