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As robo-taxis become established in more and more cities, a new autonomous car should hit the road later this year – and you can own it. HAS THESEI got a first glimpse of what awaits us for the next vehicle, called the Robocar tensioner.
This autonomous vehicle brings a new twist to the category. In addition to offering full autonomous driving capabilities, the Tensor Robocar offers owners the ability to drive the car themselves. Simply sit in the driver’s seat, press a button on a touchscreen, and watch it slide to reveal a steering wheel. Accelerator and brake pedals will also appear, and you are now in control.
Each passenger has their own screen, for a total of four screens (sorry, middle-seated rear rider). A camera nestled above each screen allows you to make a video call while cruising. The person sitting in the “driver” seat can also do this when the Robocar is operating autonomously.
The driver display can slide to the side to reveal a steering wheel when you want to take over manually.
I was impressed with the legroom in the car’s front row. I’m 5’8″ and had plenty of room to spread out. The rear seats have average legroom, so most people should be able to sit there comfortably as well.
Aside from the individual driver displays, the dashboard is quite sparse. In fact, you can use voice commands to do things like turn on the air conditioning, roll down the window or open the trunk. I wasn’t able to see these commands executed during my demo, but a Tensor promotional video shows this concept in action.
Dozens of built-in microphones allow your requests to be heard whether you’re inside or outside the vehicle. If that sounds troubling, Tensor claims that personal information like a user’s location, preferences, and records are processed and stored locally on the vehicle. If you’re still not convinced, there are physical camera covers and microphone switches for added privacy.
The car is equipped with cameras, lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors to detect objects and navigate roads. Small external screens in each corner of the vehicle can display text such as a person’s name or tell pedestrians they can cross. The car is silver and black with sleek contours and looks like a mix of Waymo’s Jaguar I-Pace fleet and Tesla Model Y.
The Robocar might appeal to people who like the idea of moving around while working, watching a movie, or participating in a video call, but also want to preserve that relaxing (or revving) experience while driving.
The Robocar’s doors open outward like sedan-style doors.
Tensor launched a partnership with Lyft in October, this will allow Robocar owners to send their vehicles around the world to autonomously drive passengers, allowing them to earn extra money. If this sounds familiar, Tesla has shared a similar vision that allows owners of its upcoming Robotaxi be part of a stand-alone call service. It’s unclear exactly when the specially designed Tesla Robotaxi will appear, although CEO Elon Musk has said it will be “before 2027.”
Tensor did not share the price of the Robocar, but it will be marketed as a luxury vehicle. We’ll likely learn more as we get closer to the planned launch period later this year. The Robocar will first be available in select regions of the United States, Europe and the United Arab Emirates.
