The Hyundai IONIQ 5 Robotaxi passes a simulated driver’s license test

The topic of self-driving cars has been around for generations. From the era of the Jetsons sitcom all the way to today, people have always been dreaming of a future where they can kick back and relax inside a car that drives itself. 

The reality, however, is far more complicated than teaching a car how to get from point A to point B. This is because driving is a very complex activity that requires multiple split-second decisions to be made in quick succession, something we humans are capable of doing very well. Add to that equation the problem of programming these cars to handle moral dilemmas and you have a very big laundry list of issues to deal with. 

Because of this, fully autonomous vehicles have taken quite a long time to develop, luckily, with technology progressing at a rapid rate, automakers around the world are slowly but surely putting into reality the self-driving cars we could only once dream of.

Introducing, the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi, a self-driving car developed by Hyundai that is quite close to full integration with society. First unveiled in 2021, this new taxi, developed in partnership with Motional, is set to premiere later this year and will be manufactured at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore.

Despite this progress in autonomous driving tech, skepticism will persist about fully autonomous vehicles. To address these concerns, Hyundai released a promotional video showcasing the Robotaxi undergoing a driving exam, akin to a teenager, to demonstrate the capabilities of its algorithms and bolster public confidence in self-driving taxis.

In the video, handling the Robotaxi’s evaluation was veteran driving instructor Kandice Jones, tasked with assessing it under the Class C license exam, the foundational driver education level in North America. Impressively, its speed, maneuverability, reaction time, and adherence to road etiquette left a lasting impact, owed to its advanced LIDAR, radar, and camera sensors.

As the headline suggests, the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi aced the test, earning its own driver's license card with flying colors. This achievement by the Robotaxi is a big deal in its own right, but, Hyundai's promotional campaign posits another benefit of self-driving cars, which is giving people with disabilities another way to remain mobile without having to rely on others. 

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 Robotaxi has completed its initial trials in the United States. However, Hyundai has not divulged plans to officially distribute the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi to other markets as of now. 

While we wait for more news on that, you can take a look at Hyundai’s extensive lineup of vehicles in the Philippines on AutoDeal.com.ph. That includes the all-electric IONIQ 5 featured in this article.