Interesting that you mention 'hardware'. That's the term I use for what can be or should be called hardware to begin with, the car itself. The types of SUVs and MPVs used by ride-hail providers, are not conducive to automated maneuvering. Whatever their potential or appeal as cars, other road users should never fall victim to self-driving vehicles of course.

What type of vehicle is better suited to driverless? A vehicle that is less of a safety risk to begin with. First of all, towards other road users, in particular the vulnerable like pedestrians and cyclists. Thus far, a lot of attention has been given to the AV technology. Below the ‘equation’ which explains that not all vehicles are ‘equal’ (suitable for driverless operation).

The sleeker (narrower) the vehicle: 1. the more nimble it is 2. the more margin to maneuver and take evasive action 3. the easier to process the vicinity for ‘driver’ as well as the on-board driverless technology 4. the less serious an accident (kinetic energy). Below: sleek, rounded, sloping vehicle contours make it easier to scan, sensor, image the AV’s vicinity; no blind spots. Cheers, Ralph