Drive.ai launches self-driving service in Arlington, Texas
On Friday, Oct. 19, Drive.ai officially launched its self-driving program in the city of Arlington, Texas.
For Drive.ai, this is the second self-driving service that it has launched on public roads in the last four months, with the first launching in Frisco, Texas back in July.
During the program in Arlington, Drive.ai is deploying its fleet of self-driving vehicles in Arlington’s downtown district, making the technology available to more than 400,000 residents, as well as visitors to the area.
“Our goal — as a company and with this program in Arlington — is to use self-driving technology to create truly impactful mobility solutions,” Drive.ai says in a company blog post.
The 50th most populous city in the country, Arlington, Texas is home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. According to Drive.ai, the city welcomes approximately 14 million visitors each year and brings 100,000 people through Arlington’s Entertainment District on days when the Cowboys or Rangers play.
According to Drive.ai, its self-driving vehicles will run on-demand between fixed pick-up and drop-off locations. Rides can be hailed either by using one of the kiosks located throughout the service area, or by downloading the Drive.ai app.
To service the football and baseball games in the area, Drive.ai's service will operate along multiple routes. These routes will also be used to service conventions, as well as Arlington’s Entertainment District and nearby offices, restaurants and amenities.
“Now people can use our self-driving service to catch a game downtown or go grab lunch with colleagues — at no cost,” Drive.ai says.
Drive.ai says that there are three key elements that it believes will be the foundation of advancing self-driving programs and scaling them in new cities and use-cases. First, Drive.ai says that it leverages deep-learning technology, which allows the company to scale quickly.
“We can adapt to a range of geographies and vehicles, meaning we’re nimble and can rapidly ramp up with new partners,” Drive.ai says.
Second, the company says that it has a “people-centric approach which prioritizes a safe, smooth experience for riders, pedestrians, and other drivers.” Drive.ai cites its innovative external communication panels as an example. Lastly, the company says that it is committed to working closely with regional and local governments to deploy self-driving programs that are safe and scalable.
“With this blueprint for impactful transportation services, we will continue expanding and implementing self-driving programs that are tailored to the transportation needs of different communities and environments,” Drive.ai says.