tech
Exclusive: How Zoox decided its robotaxi was safe
Zoox is aiming to build public trust by publishing its comprehensive safety case framework, which it shared first with Axios.
TL;DR
- Zoox is launching paid robotaxi services in Las Vegas without human controls.
- The company is publishing its safety case framework to build public trust in autonomous vehicles.
- Zoox uses a comprehensive process to identify hazards, test for failures, measure risk, and validate updates.
- Unlike Waymo, Zoox relies on an analytical, simulation, and data-based approach due to the lack of human controls for testing.
- The framework combines data from simulations, closed-course testing, and real-world driving to assess aggregate risk.
- Zoox aims for its robotaxis to be significantly safer than human drivers.
- The company has accumulated 3 million miles of real-world driving data to validate its predictions.
- Publishing the framework allows for independent scrutiny by regulators and experts.
- Zoox received a federal exemption to operate vehicles without human controls and plans to expand to San Francisco, Austin, and Miami.