Halo.Car has launched a driverless rental car service where the vehicles are piloted by a remote driver.
Photo: Halo.car
Las Vegas-based Halo.Car has started a transportation service that allows customers to rent vehicles piloted by a remote driver, according to a report by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The remote driver operates the vehicle from Halo.Car’s office.
The remotely driven vehicles will have a safety driver inside, in case any issues come up, says the report. Available only in the downtown Las Vegas area, the service is in its testing phase and currently free to use. The company plans to use only electric vehicles.
The electric rental vehicles are controlled through six cameras that stream video to the remote pilots at the company’s office, according to the report.
“There’s a big problem with electric cars today, which is the only way consumers get access to electric cars (is) via private car ownership, which means oftentimes that you have to fork out $40,000,” Anand Nandakumar, CEO of Halo.Car, told the Review-Journal.
Initially, Halo.Car plans to operate three driverless vehicles within a 1.25-mile area in downtown Las Vegas.