Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 robotaxi passes US driver’s license test

Soon, it will no longer be the stuff of sci-fi movies for a robocop to stop a self-driving car for speeding and for the human-less autonomous vehicle to pull over and say “Here’s my driver’s license.”

Hyundai Motor Co.'s IONIQ 5 roboxi has passed a US driver’s license test, moving a step closer to realizing the freedom of mobility for all, including physically impaired people.

Hyundai, South Korea’s top automaker, over the weekend unveiled a video showing a robotaxi based on its all-electric IONIQ 5 crossover successfully completing a process similar to an actual US driver’s license test.

Created to convey the safety and trustworthiness of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi’s autonomous technology, the clip features the robotaxi completing a series of public-level driving tests, including road driving in Las Vegas, demonstrating outstanding performance.

This achievement underscores the IONIQ 5 robotaxi’s reliability as well as the inclusivity of its autonomous vehicle technology, highlighting its potential to safely provide freedom of mobility to all, the company said.

The successful test also marks the first time a Level 4 autonomous vehicle classified by the SAE International, formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers, has received Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) certification.

At Level 4, a vehicle can drive itself under limited conditions and does not require safety operators in the front seat. It is just shy of Level 5, which enables fully automated driving.

“I’m a DMV-certified driving examiner with 25 years of experience. In that time, I’ve failed thousands and thousands of students in the interest of public safety,” Kandice Jones, the examiner who tested the IONIQ 5 robotaxi, said before jumping on the vehicle and sitting in the front passenger seat.

“It’s going to be the same criteria – just like testing a human. We’ll be monitoring the speed and lane changes. I’m going to grade maneuvers, making a complete stop, left turns, maintaining the lane, and of course reaction time.”

PERFECT SCORE

In the driving test, conducted by the highly experienced professional examiner, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi excelled, impressing her with its speed control, lane changes and maneuvering, its ability to accurately stop at a stop sign, perform left turns and its reaction time to developing hazards.

In the video, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi effortlessly navigated the Las Vegas Strip, as well as the city’s suburban areas.

“Surprisingly, it was the perfect score,” the examiner said as she got off the car after the test.

The film starts with an interview with Pearl Outlaw, a visually impaired American woman, and her mother, Ruth. Pearl faces mobility limitations due to her condition, called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which hinders her from obtaining a driver’s license, a symbol of independence and freedom for many people.

She burst into tears as she arrived at a remote horse ranch thanks to the IONIQ 5 robotaxi and was rejoined with the horse she used to ride on when she was able to see everything.

Pearl’s story highlights everyday mobility challenges for the physically impaired, emphasizing the significance of autonomous driving technology in providing independence, Hyundai said.

MOTIONAL, HYUNDAI-APTIV JOINT VENTURE

Motional Inc., a joint venture between Hyundai and Aptiv PLC, a US mobility startup, has been offering a pilot robotaxi service with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 on public roads in Las Vegas since 2018. But its robotaxis in the city use safety operators in the front seat.

It has also been deploying its robotaxis on Uber and Lyft apps, which dominate the US ride-hail market.

Its fully driverless public service will be operated in a limited area with a small number of vehicles. It will then expand the operating area and vehicle volume in coming years, Motional said.

Hyundai said the IONIQ 5 robotaxi has shown consistent driving performance in various driving environments thanks to its suite of advanced sensors, combining LiDAR, radar and cameras.

“As a company that pursues freedom of mobility, we at Hyundai aim to exhibit the safety and trustworthiness of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi through this campaign,” said Jee Sung-won, senior vice president and global chief marketing officer at Hyundai Motor. “We will continue our efforts to communicate our AI-based autonomous driving technology, which is set to provide positive changes to our customers’ everyday lives.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.