The world's first driverless taxi service will be launched in the Finnish capital. Boats can be ordered using a special app called Callboats. This water transport service will connect Helsinki with the nearest islands in the archipelago—Kotiloto, Villaloto, and Malkasaari.
The main advantage of this new mode of transport is its low price. Savings will be made by not having a captain on board—currently, 70% of the cost of the trip goes toward the captain's salary. With the new service, one captain will be able to remotely control five ships at once.
However, initially there will still be one crew member on board the water taxi to monitor the systems. If there are no operational problems, only passengers will be on board in the future. One vessel is designed for groups of up to 10 people.
The boats themselves are electric, each equipped with a solar battery. Safety is ensured by cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence systems. The maximum speed of such a boat is 17 km/h, and it can operate for up to 9 hours without recharging.
