Self-driving taxis are coming to residential neighborhoods
Most experts agree that robot cars will first roll out as fleets of self-driving taxis in controlled environments — college campuses, business parks, dedicated freeway lanes, or downtowns of congested cities. And we’re already starting to see the first hints of those types of services. A new one called Voyage just launched in a retirement community in California today.
Two self-driving Ford Fusions (with a third on the way) will offer trips to the 4,000 residents of the Villages, a gated community for senior citizens in San Jose. There are 15 miles of roads within the community for Voyage’s self-driving cars to learn how to interact with pedestrians, animals, roundabouts, and golf carts. The speed limit is only 25 mph, which helps…