Autonomous Hyundai IONIQ 5 passes US driving test

A driverless car has just passed the US Driving Licence test, obtaining a perfect score along the way. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 robotaxi features non-production AI-based tech to complete a range of manoeuvres in Las Vegas - including taking a drive down a busy Las Vegas Strip.

Hyundai has been working with Motional (an autonomous driving tech company) for many years on the technology and this special non-production electric vehicle combines a full suite of advanced tech to enable it to complete the test. The range of sensors on the car includes LiDAR, radar and cameras to create a 3D environment around the vehicle, allowing the AI to risk assess and perform the necessary driving actions to keep the car safe and sound on the road.

“I’m a DMV Certified Driving Examiner with 25 years of experience. In that time, I’ve failed thousands and thousands of students in the interest of public safety,” said Kandice Jones, the examiner who tested the IONIQ 5 robotaxi. “It’s going to be the same criteria – just like testing a human. We’ll be monitoring the speed, lane changes. I’m going to grade maneuvers, making a complete stop, left turns, maintaining the lane, and of course reaction time.”

While there's no timescales from Hyundai on any roll out of these autonomous vehicles even a campaign-based vehicle such as this, shows the huge amount of work that's gone on to allow a vehicle to complete the test.