Autonomously Moving People & Goods - Avride's VP of Business Development, Artem Fokin

The U.S.-based startup Avride began developing autonomous vehicle (AV) technology back in 2017 when it was known as Yandex Self-Driving Group. Following a large-scale restructuring, it emerged under the new name in 2024. 

Unlike its rivals, Avride is developing and operating both autonomous cars and delivery robots that use mutually enhancing technologies. 

"Our technology is designed to make people true passengers in cars by taking full control of the driving task. This is achieved with additional sensors - lidars, radars, and cameras - that gather information about the surrounding environment, along with complex algorithms that analyze the data to help the vehicle understand what’s happening around it," Artem Fokin, VP of Business Development at Avride, tells Auto Futures.

"These systems predict the actions of other road users and plan the safest and most efficient driving path accordingly," he adds.

The delivery robots also use lidars and cameras to 'see' the world around them. They analyse that data in real time to plan their movements.

"Unlike cars, our robots move on sidewalks, and their speed is limited to 8 km/h. This allows them to move faster than pedestrians while still being safe and comfortable for people around," explains Fokin.

"Solutions developed for one platform can often be adapted for the other. Additionally, both platforms share a large amount of common infrastructure, such as simulation tools, cloud storage, data analysis, and other support services. Plus, our delivery robots are already a commercial product, allowing us to gain valuable operational experience as we prepare for the launch of robotaxi services." 

Coming To An Uber App Soon...

The issue of safety is taken very seriously by Avride. Since 2017, its AVs have driven over 20 million kilometers in autonomous mode without a single major accident.

"We understand that the safety expectations for autonomous vehicles are extremely high at this stage, and we do everything possible to meet those standards. This applies not only to testing but also to how we approach development, operations, and more. The same goes for our robots," says Fokin.

"We also prioritize the comfort of other road users - drivers, pedestrians, and passengers - when sharing the road with our vehicles and robots. To ensure this, we measure and analyze hundreds of different metrics and only expand the operational design domain (ODD) when we see statistical evidence confirming the safety and comfort of our technology."

Avride and Uber Technologies, Inc. have recently announced a multiyear strategic partnership to bring delivery robots and AVs to Uber and Uber Eats.

When a consumer requests a delivery or ride on an Uber app, they will be presented with the option to have that trip fulfilled by an Avride delivery robot or an AV.

In a press statement, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, commented: “Autonomous mobility and delivery hold a ton of promise for consumers and communities. We’re excited to partner with Avride to bring their technology to more people in more places, as they continue to scale.”

Fokin adds: "Both Uber and Avride are tackling similar challenges - moving people and goods - and we’re confident that working together will help further improve the delivery experience for both consumers and merchants. It’s exciting that Uber’s platform accommodates both of our products: cars will transport people, and robots will deliver orders. We can’t wait to kick off this partnership. Very soon, Austin residents will be able to order food delivery by robot, followed by Dallas and Jersey City later this year."

Hailing Robotaxis

Although Avride is based in Ausitn, Texas, it is keeping a watchful eye on the European market. 

"The implementation of autonomous transportation depends on having the right regulatory framework. This determines whether companies will enter a market or not. Take Texas, for example, by introducing favorable regulations for autonomous technologies, it has become a hub for AV companies in the US," says Fokin.

"If I’m not mistaken, over a dozen companies are currently testing or operating their services there. We are closely monitoring how autonomous vehicle legislation is developing in European countries to assess the potential for entering the European market."

Finally we asked Fokin when and where will we see full L4 AVs on public streets.

"In terms of the industry as a whole, it’s already happening. In several cities in the US and China, you can hail a robotaxi today. These two countries are leading the way because they have the necessary regulatory frameworks in place. As for Avride, we plan to launch our robotaxi service in partnership with Uber in Dallas later in 2025," he concludes.