DRIVERLESS CARS


CRUISE UNVEILS A WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE ROBOTAXI, WITH PLANS TO LAUNCH IN 2024


Cruise, the autonomous vehicle (AV) company backed by General Motors, revealed a wheelchair- accessible robotaxi that it says could start picking up disabled passengers as soon as next year. This is a major step toward ful- filling the dream of people with disabilities, who have long held out hope that AVs represent a new way of getting around. The vehicle is a version of Cruise’s fully driverless, shuttle-sized Origin vehicles, which lack traditional controls such as steering wheel and pedals. It has been modified to include a retractable ramp, as well as added space inside and floor clamps for wheelchair users. The vehicle is the product of three years of development and testing between Cruise, GM, and its partners in AV design at Braun- Ability and Q’Straint. The company also consulted with its advisory council on accessibility,


which


includes dozens of advocates. Over 25 million Americans have disabilities that make traveling outside the home difficult. Historically, car companies have provided little relief, producing vehicles that are either inacces- sible or cost thousands of dollars to retrofit for a driver with disabilities. Traditional transportation services are notoriously inaccessible and often refuse service to people with disabilities. AVs, and especially robotaxis, present a solution. Indeed, advocates from the disability community have voiced their support for AV development at many crucial moments, most recently testifying in favor of Cruise and Waymo’s application to the


PHTM OCTOBER 2023


the straps. Notably, Cruise is calling its approach


“multi-generat-


ional,” meaning it intends to update the design based on feedback from users. “Designing a self-driving vehicle that accommodates as many wheelchair users as possible is a distinct


state of California for an expanded robotaxi service. But there have


also been


frustrating delays, as companies have prioritised non-wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV) in their various tests and deployments across the country. A number of companies, including Volkswagen, Waymo, and others, have been working on new designs they say are intended to benefit disabled passengers - but few have shown off an actual product until now. Cruise says it has taken the issue of accessibility seriously since day one, hiring a full-time accessibility programme manager for its fleet of driverless cars in San Francisco. Cruise says it built the Origin, its first purpose-built AV, with modularity in mind. From the low floor and high roof to the double- wide doors and removable seats, Cruise views the Origin as a blank canvas that it can modify with customer feedback. The vehicle has been designed to be able to pick up and drop off wheelchair users from a four-inch curb, the company said. As of now, it can only accommodate people who use specific brands of wheelchairs. Cruise says people who use manual wheelchairs may need a companion to help secure


technical challenge that has never been done before,” the company added. The new accessible variant will start closed-course testing in October. Pending regulatory approval, as well as user feedback, the accessible Origin could hit the streets for pilot testing as soon as 2024. The Origin needs an exemption from safety rules from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration so the company can produce more of them. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt recently said that the federal government was expected to make a decision on the Origin very soon. Until recently, Cruise has faced criticism around its lack


of


accessibility. The company was accused by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Auth- ority and several other govern- ment agencies of failing to offer a service in low-income and minority areas or accommodate people using wheelchairs. The company has also been criticised for blocking emergency vehicles. Last month, one of its driverless Chevy Bolt vehicles collided with a firetruck in the city, leaving one passenger injured. Cruise agreed to reduce its fleet by half while the incident was under investigation.


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