Residents will be able to 'hail' a cab using a phone app and drive to their chosen location as part of a brand new trial taking place in MK.
People in Milton Keynes will be able to book a vehicle using the 'Fetch' app. A car will then be driven by remote control to their location.
Using the app, passengers can then unlock the car and drive the car normally to their destination.
Upon trip completion, the remote vehicle operator will take over and navigate the car remotely to the next user or the base.
Currently, app trials are taking place in private routes under controlled conditions with the company planning to include public trails in the next 12 months.
Fetch offers different cars, ranging from a standard saloon to electric microcars.
Every vehicle is equipped with London-based company Imperium Drive’s proprietary remote driving software. They use 5G network as a primary source for connectivity and control.
This new trial is backed by private investment and supported by Milton Keynes Council and the government’s ‘5G Create’ initiative.
The company aims to launch a fully operational remote-operated car-hailing service in the UK in the second half of 2022. It wants to move to fully autonomous vehicles within the next five years.
Koosha Kaveh, CEO of Imperium Drive, said: “For many people, public transport is cheap but inconvenient, while ride-hailing and taxis are convenient but also expensive. Our goal is to make on-demand door-to-door transport more cost-effective and convenient than every alternative, even privately owned cars.
“There are real environmental benefits too, with the potential to greatly reduce the number of private cars on the road. With Fetch, users hail a car to their doorstep and within minutes can be on their way, driving themselves to their destination in their own time and at their convenience. They don’t even have to worry about parking when they get there.”
This won't be the first futuristic service to be launched in Milton Keynes. Starship Technologies robots were introduced back in 2018 and have become a huge part of day to day life, with many residents saying they couldn't imagine life without them.
Using advanced technology and 360 bubble vision, the robots deliver takeaways, food shopping and drinks with a click of a button. The successful robots have gained recognition and love around the world.
