You can order everything else on Amazon, so why not short-trip urban rides in the, um, Zoox? Envisioned as a strictly geofenced, mostly low-speed robotaxi, this tiny autonomous cube built by recent Amazon acquisition Zoox seats four, features four-wheel steering that permits it to maneuver into very tiny spaces, and is equally happy driving in either direction. It also has nothing to do with Zoosk, the online dating site. 

What's Zoox?

This Bay-Area autonomous vehicle startup was founded in 2014, built its first prototype in 2015, first demonstrated SAE Level-3 autonomy in 2017, began durability testing of production prototypes in 2019, then established a production line in Fremont, California and was acquired by Amazon in May 2020. And that name? It's short for zooxanthellae—a mobile, algae-like organism powered by photosynthesis that thrives in mutually beneficial relationships with coral. Aww. 


How Big Is The Zoox Autonomous Vehicle?

This soft-cornered box resembles a dramatically downsized version of other robotaxis like the Continental/Easy Mile CUbE or an upsized version of the tiny Nuro R1 autonomous delivery vehicle. Its wheels are pushed way out to the corners, so if you were to remove the cycle fenders from the tires, the Zoox's approach and departure angle would be 90 degrees; so far, the company has no plan to exploit that feature.


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