World’s first self-driving taxis launched in Singapore
The world’s first self-driving taxi service was launched in Singapore. This launch is significant as it offer technology demonstration that could revolutionize the future transport industry.
The self-driving taxi service was launched Singapore based nuTonomy, an autonomous vehicle software startup. With this nuTonomy became entity in the world first to offer self-driving taxi rides to the public.
Key Facts
- The Singapore government had given its approval nuTonomy to conduct the self-driving taxi trial for the public.
- NuTonomy has started this service with small fleet of six cars. It includes modified versions of Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car.
- Each car is fitted with six sets of Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging), a detection system that uses lasers to operate like radar that constantly spins on the roof.
- There are also two cameras on the dashboard to scan for obstacles and detect changes in traffic lights.
- During the trail phase, these vehicles have a computer engineer and backup human driver in case anything goes wrong.
Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016