Robot-Taxis: What is their purpose?

Can Robotaxis be 4S?

May Mobility's recent announcement of its third rider-only deployment in the United States signals a growing confidence in the maturity of autonomous vehicle technology. These milestones suggest that robotaxis are becoming increasingly capable of navigating real-world environments without human intervention. But as the industry celebrates these technological leaps, a crucial question lingers: what is the true purpose of this advancement, and are we at risk of overlooking the genuine needs of consumers in the rush to autonomy?

This assessment isn't limited to May Mobility. Industry players like Waymo, Pony.ai, and Zoox to name a few, despite their significant investments and advanced technology, also face similar challenges in addressing the diverse needs of potential users. Just like May Mobility, these companies are primarily driven by the goal of technological validation and market penetration. However, the pursuit of technological prowess should not overshadow the fundamental need to create a transportation system that is accessible and usable by everyone.

Looking at robotaxis through a "4S lens" – considering Safety, Security, Seamlessness, and Sustainability – reveals blind spots, particularly concerning inclusivity and ease of use. Are we in danger of creating a transportation future that caters only to a select subset of potential users, leaving behind significant portions of the population (the WHO estimated that 16% of the world population experience a significant disability)?

Currently, the robotaxi narrative often seems tailored to a digitally fluent and physically capable demographic. However, a closer look reveals several groups who are likely to struggle with the emerging robotaxi paradigm:

Digital Illiteracy: A Significant Barrier: The assumption of universal digital literacy is a critical flaw. Many individuals, especially older adults and those from less digitally connected communities, are not "digital natives." Reliance on smartphone apps and complex digital interfaces for booking, managing, and interacting with robotaxis creates a substantial barrier for these populations, effectively excluding them from accessing this potentially transformative service.

People with Mobility Limitations: Robotaxi development must move beyond serving the "average" user and address the diverse spectrum of mobility needs. This includes:

• Older Adults: Reduced strength, balance, and flexibility can make entering and exiting standard vehicles challenging for many older adults.

• People Using Walkers: Stowing these aids and manoeuvring oneself into and out of a vehicle without support presents significant hurdles.

• People in Wheelchairs: The most obvious accessibility challenge, requiring ramp or lift access and securement systems not typically found in standard car designs.

People with Visual Impairments: Beyond physical assistance, people with visual impairments often rely on drivers for vital verbal guidance and physical cues when navigating vehicle entry and exit, especially in unfamiliar environments or around obstacles like curbs. The absence of a driver removes this crucial support.

The absence of a driver can remove crucial support

Parents with Young Children: Parents already navigate a complex dance of car seats, buckling children, and managing strollers. Without a driver's assistance, this task becomes even more demanding, potentially rendering robotaxis impractical for families with young children.

People Carrying Heavy Items: Whether it's luggage, groceries, or work equipment, many individuals occasionally require assistance with loading and unloading items – a common courtesy often extended by human drivers that disappears with robotaxis.

Perhaps the most critical accessibility challenge, and one that threads through many of these examples, is the physical assistance gap. Many individuals require physical help to enter and exit a vehicle. Without a driver, who will provide this essential support?

Many individuals occasionally require assistance with loading and unloading items

Ignoring these diverse needs is not only ethically questionable; it's also a wasted opportunity. Robotaxis possess the potential to revolutionise transportation and enhance mobility for everyone. However, if development continues on its current trajectory, focusing primarily on technological prowess and neglecting crucial aspects of inclusivity and ease of use, robotaxis risk becoming a service that primarily benefits a select, digitally savvy, and physically capable demographic. This would exacerbate existing transportation inequities instead of alleviating them.

London black cabs exemplify accessible taxi services, as they are wheelchair accessible and incorporate features such as ramp access, swivel seats, spacious interiors, and induction loops. Despite these advantages, their declining numbers create an availability problem. Their purpose-built design is further enhanced by human driver assistance, including ramp operation, help with boarding and alighting, and luggage stowing.

Consequently, for robot-taxis to be truly inclusive, they must effectively address the needs of individuals with limited mobility in the absence of a human driver.

To avoid this unfortunate outcome, a fundamental shift in focus is required: Prioritizing user-centered design from the outset. Robotaxi development must be deeply rooted in understanding and addressing the needs of all potential users, including older adults, people with disabilities, non-digital natives, and families. This means involving diverse user groups in the design process from the very beginning, not as an afterthought.

Considering universal design principles from the initial conceptualisation phase offers numerous advantages:

• Optimised Trade-offs: Designing for accessibility from the start allows for informed and balanced trade-offs, creating solutions that are not only inclusive but also efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective.

• Holistic and Integrated Solutions: Accessibility features become integral to the design, leading to more seamless and user-friendly experiences for everyone, rather than feeling like tacked-on additions.

• Innovation and New Possibilities: The constraint of universal accessibility can spark creative design solutions and innovative approaches that might not emerge otherwise, ultimately enhancing the overall functionality for all users.

• Preventing Costly Retrofits: Proactive design is economically sound, avoiding expensive and inefficient retrofitting for accessibility at later stages.

To ensure that robotaxis truly fulfil their promise, the industry must move beyond celebrating technical achievements and embrace a user-centered design philosophy that focusses on outcomes that matter to the end-users.  Only then can we ensure that this transportation revolution truly benefits everyone. Only then can we ensure that this transportation revolution truly benefits everyone. This is the core of 4S mobility, where the experience to all users is paramount.