5G technologies have created a lot of hype for the possibility of powering driverless cars using remote operators, but what has happened over the last few years – hype. Las Vegas-based startup Hello and telecom giant T-Mobile is teaming up for this change, driving 5G to launch driverless electric car service in Las Vegas later this year. Starting with five cars, the service will work by connecting users to Halor’s pilot fleet through an app. After a user orders a car, a remote operator will drive it to the waiting customer.
After delivering the car, the user will be able to get behind the steering wheel and drive the vehicle as normal for the duration of the trip. When the trip is complete, the remote operator will pick it up again and drive it to the next waiting customer. Significantly departed from companies like Hello Waimo or Cruise, which is developing a stack of fully self-driving technology that aims to move people – remotely or in cars – from the complete equation to Hello cars with nine cameras, radar, and ultrasonics as backups (no No leader) will be equipped and it will be connected to remote operators via T-Mobile’s ultra capacity mid band 5G network.
Anand Nandakumar, CEO of HAL, told TechCrunch that the service could run on extended range low-band 5G networks and even LTE as required. Hello said in a press release that its vehicles will be equipped with an algorithm that “teaches people to control vehicles while creating a unique feedback loop for levels to achieve 3 level capabilities over time” suggesting that the company has long-term autonomy. (“Level 3” refers to the Society of Automotive Engineers as a five-level autonomous driving).
“Full autonomy is a huge challenge from both a technical and socio-belief perspective that will not be addressed for years to come,” Nandakumar said in a statement. “However, Hello is designed to address these challenges by creating automation over time with a solution that customers will feel comfortable using today.” The startup further said that its vehicles will be equipped with an improved safe stop mechanism, which will bring the vehicles to a complete stop immediately if any potential safety risk is detected.
