who monitors the vehicle while it is in action, [is] integral to May Mobility’s success in educating and making first-time riders feel safe in our shuttles. Our Fleet Attendants engage with the community on a ride by ride basis, letting riders know what the self-driving shuttle is doing, how it is able to make the decisions it does, and when they need to go into manual mode. Is this one of the first steps of getting more autonomous vehicles on the road? Our deployment in Columbus serves as a milestone to getting more self-driving shuttles on the road because it was our first service open to the general public. Our partnership with the city has allowed May Mobility’s self-driving vehicles to easily integrate into the fabric of the city, providing a transportation experience riders enjoy, and rely on. May Mobility’s service in Columbus has showcased the benefits of our self-driving service to a larger audience and is setting a precedent that other cities will follow. What are the benefits of having more autonomous cars on the road? May Mobility’s self-driving service compliments Columbus’ transportation system by connecting people to their final destinations and alleviating congestion. Our shuttles help the city provide their citizens with secure, reliable and shared mobility with a personal feel. In addition to bringing aid to existing parking dilemmas in Columbus, the shuttles bring people to shopping, businesses and local points of interest. How does the system work in unpredictable weather patterns like rain or snow? Our main priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience to riders. There will be weather conditions which we’ll deem unsafe for our vehicles to drive autonomously and will have our Fleet Attendants intervene by driving manually. May Mobility Fleet Attendants oversee the operation of the vehicle and ensure that each rider has the best experience, helping to answer questions and explain a bit about the tech. If someone were to use one of your vehicles to travel, would it have an operator in the car for “just in case” instances? Currently, there is no company that is able to put Level 4 or 5 vehicles [i.e. fully autonomous vehicles] on the road without a human monitor behind the steering wheel. We call these monitors Fleet Attendants because, for us, they are much more than a monitor, they are an important part of our community engagement and education team.
614columbus.com
FEBRUARY 2019 (614) Magazine
67