Argo AI Starts Driverless Operations in Miami, Austin
May 17, 2022
Autonomous vehicle technology developer Argo AI has announced it began driverless operations in Miami, Fla., and Austin, Texas, two of the eight global cities in which it is currently developing its technology.
Reaching the point to operate without a driver, during daytime business hours, while also sharing the road with others, is the result of more than five years of progress on the Argo Autonomy Platform, the company said. The launch of customer-facing pilot programs in Miami and Austin marks an important step in Argo’s plan to bring together the technology, operational footprint, and commercial partners needed for a scalable autonomy business, it added.
“Argo is the first to go driverless in two major American cities, safely operating amongst heavy traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists in the busiest of neighborhoods,” said Bryan Salesky, founder and CEO of Argo AI. “From day one, we set out to tackle the hardest miles to drive – in multiple cities – because that’s where the density of customer demand is, and where our autonomy platform is developing the intelligence required to scale it into a sustainable business.”
Argo offers companies a full suite of products that allow them to improve operations through using Argo autonomous vehicles. Through a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) known as Arco Connect, companies involved in ridesharing, delivery and logistics can integrate the vehicles into their own services. In addition, Argo offers a portfolio of Autonomy Solutions that help businesses manage in-market services and depot operations, offering real-time trip visibility and support.
Argo said it is focusing on commercialization in large cities to maximize scale and support businesses where they need the most help. In addition to Miami and Austin, the company is operating in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Detroit, Palo Alto, Calif.; and Munich and Hamburg, Germany. This diversity of testing locations enable the company to establish different road infrastructure and driving behaviors to support rapid expansion.
For example, Argo’s vehicles that operate on Lyft’s rideshare network in Miami Beach need to navigate complex traffic scenarios such as pedestrians walking outside of designated walk areas, bicyclists and construction, among others.
For more details on Argo’s technologies and autonomy services, visit its website here.
