When was the last time when you made that short journey without wallowing about that taxi driver or worse, unavailability of a taxi or a bus? Ever wondered when can this system smarten up enough to cater to your needs instantly? Well, the answer will be there in the year 2025. Especially Londoners can jump with joy, because designer Paul Piliste has conceptualized the OPTI, an ecofriendly driverless taxi for London, which could hit the street with sheer style and smartness.
Satellite navigation, proximity lasers, parking sensors as well as cameras will ensure that the vehicle is available 24 hours a day.. Decked with lithium-Ion batteries which are recharged and maintained wirelessly, this small wonder caters to the problem of rising fuel costs and pollution. Its curvaceous body sports an upright seating position and gives it a compact look, which is apt for short distance journeys. However, a fully charged OPTI can travel up to 50 miles. Choose your destination from the touch screen on the dashboard and it will navigate by itself. Central bus and train stations would act as hiring points for these fancy cars. The hiring points will be steel structures which can house a number of OPTIs and recharge their electric batteries.
Here is a short description of the process – walk up to a hiring point, order the vehicle via an access panel, the taxi will drive out; stop and the doors will be opened for you to get in. Once you are in, strap up the seat belt and choose your destination on the touch screen. Next, lay back and cool off your heels as the taxi kicks off to your destination. Don’t worry about the charges! It’s all crystal clear as it could be. You’ll be charged not according to the time spent inside but according to the battery usage.
Once you reach the destination, pay with your debit or credit card (cash is a big ‘NO’) which is verified using 3G. As it stops and open its doors for you, do accept its thanksgiving for using its services and if you are satisfied by the service, drop some kind words back irrespective of the fact that it won’t understand. And while you march to your destination this smart fella automatically races to the nearest hire point with empty spots. Ready to serve again.
Via: Tuvie
