launcht A future based development project in Toronto unveiled by Alphabet Inc.’s urban planning initiative includes a transportation system with on-demand autonomous vehicles, likely to be supplied by fellow Alphabet unit Waymo. The company on its behalf is committing $50 million to the project. The project dubbed as “Sidewalk Toronto”, the project includes cutting-edge amenities along with a shared, autonomous “taxibot” network.
“A shared-ride taxibot network can offer the advantages of point-to-point service with space and fuel economies approaching that of the city bus, replacing private cars while supporting transit enhancements,” according to the plan. “Sidewalk will explore partnerships, including with its sibling company Waymo, to test multiple types of self-driving vehicles on the Eastern Waterfront.”
The network is focusing on small robotic vans, with between 6-12 seats, to ferry passengers through the futuristic Google city. Timing for when the service might be introduced isn’t specified. A spokesman for Waymo declined to comment on the matter.
