Uber, Lucid, and Nuro reveal new electric robotaxi

Three big names in the transportation world have joined forces to change how we get around cities. At the CES technology show, Uber, Lucid, and Nuro showed off a new kind of taxi. This new vehicle is one of the most advanced electric cars to hit the streets. The three companies plan to start picking up passengers in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year.

The new project combines the strengths of three different companies. Lucid provides the car itself - the Gravity SUV as the base for the taxi. Nuro provides the "driver." This is not a person, but a computer system that controls the car. And finally, Uber brings its massive network of riders. If you use the Uber app, you might soon get picked up by a self-driving Lucid Gravity.

The car itself has undergone some changes. It is a Level 4 robotaxi, meaning it can handle most driving tasks on its own without a human needing to take over. To do this, the car needs to see the world clearly. It uses a mix of cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors that use light to measure distances. These sensors are built right into the body of the car. There is also a pod on the roof called a "halo." This equipment gives the computer a full 360-degree view of the road.

The computer brain of this vehicle uses the Nuro Driver system that runs on a computer chip made by Nvidia called the Drive AGX Thor. It processes information in real-time, allowing the car to make safe decisions quickly. The three companies involved in this project started testing these cars on actual roads back in December.

Finding your ride can sometimes be hard, especially at a busy airport or concert. This robotaxi solves that problem in a clever way. The "halo" on the roof has screens on it. When the car gets close to you, the screens will show your initials. This way, you know exactly which car is yours before you even open the door. It is a small detail, but it makes the experience much smoother for the rider.

Once you get inside, the experience is different from a normal taxi. You sit in the second row. A screen greets you by name. It also shows you where you are going. You are in charge of when the ride begins. There is a digital button that lets you open the trunk to put in your bags. When you are seated and ready, you tap "Start Drive" on the screen. The car will not move until you tell it to.

During the ride, the screen keeps you informed. It shows you the time you will arrive at your destination. It also shows you what the car is doing. If the car stops for a person walking across the street, the screen shows an animation of that. It tells you when the car is changing lanes or slowing down for a light. This should help riders trust the vehicle. You can also control the temperature, turn on heated seats, or change the music. And if there is a problem, you can contact support or tell the car to pull over to the side of the road safely.

This robotaxi is not just for solo travelers. It is built to carry groups. The vehicle can seat up to six passengers comfortably. It also has plenty of room for luggage. This makes it a great option for families or groups of friends going out for dinner. The large size of the Lucid Gravity SUV makes this possible.

Lucid will apparently start building robotaxis later this year at their factory in Arizona. After that, they will head to the Bay Area for service. Unsurprisingly, Uber has big goals for this partnership. They hope to put at least 20,000 of these Lucid robotaxis on the road over the next six years, with a plan to expand to dozens of markets around the world.

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