Step-by-Step Guide to Book a Driverless Electric Robotaxi via the Karwa App in Doha

Qatar is taking a major step forward in the world of smart mobility with the successful completion of the first phase of the nation’s autonomous electric robotaxi pilot. Having shown encouraging safety performance, Mowasalat (Karwa) and the Ministry of Transport are set to roll out Phase 2 which will feature full self-driving electric taxis on specific streets in Doha.

Phase 2 will take place without anybody behind the wheel of a robotaxi, as opposed to the first pilot with a trained safety officer inside each vehicle. Rather, the vehicles will be monitored remotely from the centralized operations centre, which is a giant stride towards its implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030.

What is the Karwa Driverless Robotaxi?

The Karwa is a Level 4 driverless electric vehicle that can drive on urban roads by itself. Leveraging state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, cameras, radar and LiDAR, the rover constantly scans its environment and navigates through the streets of Doha.

There are a total of 11 high-definition cameras, four radar sensors, and four LiDAR units at each robotaxi, which offers a full 360-degree range of view of traffic around the vehicle. The vehicles are driven at a maximum 80 km/h for extra security.

Who Can Book the Robotaxi?

The service is supposed to be accessible via the official Karwa App, and users who qualify can book automated taxis for their trips like they can with normal taxis. The rollout will be gradual and while this may be limited to the operating areas approved for bidding, authorities will be monitoring the performance.

The user must make sure that Karwa App is updated before requesting a ride and he/she must have a payment option kept alive.

Step-by-Step Guide to Booking a Driverless Robotaxi

Step 1: Download or Update the Karwa App

First of all, install the official Karwa App from your mobile app store or update it to the latest version. New self-driving rides will be linked seamlessly to the current online booking system.

Step 2: Create or Log Into Your Account

Go to the application and log in with your registered Mobile Phone Number or Account Details. To request a ride, new users must register first.

Step 3: Choose Pickup and Destinations

Fill in what place you want to pick up from and what place you want to go to. The app will suggest if both locations are within the set autonomous operating corridors or not.

Step 4: Choose the Driverless Robotaxi Option

For those journeys that qualify, choose the Driverless Electric Robotaxi vehicle category. The app will show the availability of vehicles, expected arrival time, and the details of the trips.

Step 5: Confirm Payment

Select preferred payment option and make a booking confirmation. The app will give real-time tracking as the autonomous vehicle is approaching you as it gets to where you are.

Step 6: Start the journey

After arriving, ensure all the vehicle information displayed in the app before getting inside the robotaxi. While on the path, the autonomous system will take on all driving tasks, but will be connected to Karwa’s remote operations center, meaning it will be monitored constantly.

Approved Driverless Robotaxi Routes

In Phase 2, it is possible to operate in three strategically selected sectors that comprise tourism, business and cultural destinations. Routes approved are:

• Doroha, Qatar’s oldest port, and The Gate Mall are connected.
• Login and payment are required here.Please logon and pay here.
• Buses are also available.Also buses to MIA from West Bay.

Further routes will be added up over time as the autonomous program grows.

Safety Comes First

Safety will continue to be the basis of Qatar’s autonomous mobility approach. In Phase 1, the pilot made about 2,500 passenger trips, successfully tracked a 94% share of the journeys using the autonomous driving systems without any human intervention.

In Phase 2, the safety officer will no longer be on board the vehicle, but all journeys will be supervised by highly trained engineers using a state-of-the-art remote operations center that can monitor the performance of the vehicle in real-time.

Qatar’s Public Transport Future

Beyond the technological success, the driverless robotaxi project is a significant step towards Qatar’s goals of becoming a smart and green transportation hub. Together with autonomous driving technology, the country seeks to jointly enhance road safety, curb emissions, and facilitate citizens and visitors to travel easily and conveniently.

With the increasing number of routes available, the Karwa robotaxi service has the potential to become a significant part of the urban mobility landscape in Doha.

FAQs

What is a Karwa driverless taxi robot?

Karwa is an autonomous Level 4 electric taxi which is driverless, but can be remotely controlled via a centralized control centre.

How to book a driverless in Doha?

The passengers have to book the service from the official Karwa App for available pickup/drop-off points as per the given autonomous operating routes.

Will the robo taxis be driverless?

Yes. In Phase 2 there will be no safety officer in the vehicle. Each of these robotaxis, however, will be continuously supervised remotely by Karwa’s operations centre.

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