A big company named Uber brings self-driving cars to the UK. The new service starts on Thursday for local riders. People call these smart vehicles robotaxis because they drive themselves. A robotaxi uses computers and cameras to see the road.
Many people want to try the new cars today. The company tests the cars in a busy city. Riders can book a trip on their phones just like before. Reporters take the first test rides to see how it works.
How the Cars Work
The robotaxi drives down the street without your help. A computer controls the gas and the steering wheel. Cameras look out for cars and people on the sidewalk. The car stops fast if something jumps in front of it.
Sensors on top of the car spin around all the time. They measure distance and find safe paths through traffic. The technology learns from every single trip it makes. Engineers check the computer data after every single drive.
Drivers Are Still Inside
A human worker sits in the front seat right now. The driver holds the wheel just in case something goes wrong. Uber wants to keep every rider safe during this test. The worker can stop the car with one push.
Some riders feel nervous about cars without drivers. The safety person helps people feel much more relaxed inside. Nobody knows when the cars will drive with zero humans. Uber wants to test them more before that big step.
What People Think
BBC reporter Zoe Kleinman takes a ride in the vehicle. She says the car moves smoothly down the city street. The vehicle stops safely at red lights and stop signs. She feels surprised by how normal the whole trip feels.
Other people worry about traffic jams and computer bugs. They want to make sure the roads stay very safe. Uber talks to city leaders about all these good points. More cities might get robotaxis if this test goes well.