Zoox, the autonomous mobility company owned by Amazon, detailed safety features of its purpose-built robotaxi, saying it incorporates redundant systems to ensure reliability across critical functions such as steering, braking, power, sensors, and connectivity. The vehicle is designed to operate under a fail-operational model, meaning it can continue functioning safely even if components fail, unlike traditional fail-safe systems that may shut down or restrict performance.
The robotaxi uses a dual-battery configuration to avoid single points of failure in its powertrain. If a battery or power converter stops working, the system allows the vehicle to safely pull over, activate hazard lights, and open doors for passengers. Redundant steering and braking systems also support continued operation in the event of component failure, with multi-technology braking providing additional reliability.
Zoox’s safety design extends to diagnostics and sensing. The vehicle features a real-time monitoring system that tracks hardware, software, and firmware, enabling early detection of potential issues for proactive maintenance. A 360-degree sensor suite with overlapping fields of view ensures uninterrupted situational awareness, allowing the vehicle to navigate safely even if one sensor is obstructed or fails.
Connectivity is supported by three cellular modems that replicate and balance data streams to maintain remote monitoring and teleoperations, even when coverage is inconsistent. Zoox said its robotaxi incorporates more than 100 safety innovations, with redundancy central to its design, aiming to set a new benchmark for autonomous vehicle safety by preventing single failures from compromising rider security.