Cruise Unveils a Wheelchair-Accessible Self-Driving Car

Cruise Unveils Wheelchair-Accessible Self-Driving Car

Cruise, the autonomous-car company owned by General Motors, has unveiled a wheelchair-accessible self-driving car called Wav. A fully built and operational prototype was showcased at an event in San Francisco on Wednesday. Cruise aims to launch the vehicle next year, starting with a pilot program for a handful of users.

Providing Accessible Transportation Options

The goal of Wav (pronounced “wave”) is to provide more accessible transportation options for people with disabilities. Around 42 million Americans have a disability, according to US Census Bureau data from 2021. 

“Accessibility is also an important reason why we’re invested in autonomous vehicles,” Carrie Morton, GM’s chief engineer of accessibility, said during a panel discussion. “This transformation in mobility has the potential to really change the way people move around the world.”

Features and Collaboration

The car features a ramp and wheelchair securement system, and room inside for one wheelchair user and one companion.   

Cruise says it worked closely with the disability community in developing Wav, gathering feedback on design, user experience, and securement systems. It collaborated with manufacturers of accessible vehicles and products, like BraunAbility and Q’Straint.

“People with disabilities are living in a world that is not designed and built for us,” said Theo Braddy, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living. “We also know that this can be changed today.”

Impact on Quality of Life

Making transportation more accessible can lead to improved quality of life in regard to work, education, health, and recreational activities, Braddy noted.

Regulatory Approval and Testing

Wav will need regulatory approval before hitting public roads, and Cruise will make changes to the prototype based on user feedback. Closed-course testing of Wav begins next month. 

Public Perception and Safety Concerns

The news comes at a time when driverless cars are being met with a mix of fascination and skepticism — to put it lightly — by local communities.

Last month, the California Department of Motor Vehicles told Cruise to reduce its fleet of active robotaxis in San Francisco by 50% following a collision between a Cruise car and a fire truck. The DMV can suspend or revoke testing or deployment permits if it finds there’s an “unreasonable risk to public safety.”

In response, Cruise said it’s working with the DMV to “make any improvements and provide any data they need to reinforce the safety and efficiency of our fleet.” Just a couple of weeks before, California regulators gave Cruise and competitor Waymo permission to charge for rides throughout San Francisco at any time of day.

Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Safe Exit Feature in a Self-Driving Taxi

1. Testing Waymo’s Safe Exit Feature in a Self-Driving Taxi
• Duration: 05:29

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article addresses the issue of accessibility for people with disabilities, which is related to reducing inequalities (SDG 10) and creating sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.

The article highlights the goal of providing more accessible transportation options for people with disabilities, which aligns with Target 10.2 of promoting the social and economic inclusion of all individuals, including those with disabilities. Additionally, the development of a wheelchair-accessible self-driving car contributes to Target 11.2 of providing accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 11.2.1: Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities.

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, the mentioned targets can be measured using indicators such as the proportion of people with disabilities who have access to affordable transportation options (Indicator 10.2.1) and the proportion of the population with convenient access to accessible public transport (Indicator 11.2.1).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: cnet.com

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