Google may be leading the way in developing its own self-driving car, but more and more tech firms are joining the race to make autonomous vehicles mainstream. Now Samsung has said it is setting up a team to develop a car components business focusing on autonomous driving technology and entertainment systems. And fellow Asian firm, Baidu, has revealed ambitious plans to build autonomous buses that could replace older forms of public transport.
Like Google, the company desires to use its mapping data in autonomous vehicles. Senior Vice President Wang Jing, told The Wall Street Journal that the firm is developing self-driving vehicles that will act as public buses. China’s state news agency, Xinhua has reported that search engine Baidu has already made a self-driving car which, in tests, hit speeds of 62 mph (100km/h).
The modified BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo was tested on expressways north of Beijing and use laser radars(激光雷达), sensors(传感器), and cameras alongside bespoke deep-leaning and mapping software. While the firm has not revealed plans to bring the cars to market, the first autonomous public transport could be on the roads in just three years. Baidu said it is in discussions with Chinese and foreign auto makers. Future vehicles will be designed to operate on fixed routes or within specific areas, making them more suited to public transport with set routes, rather than impulsive consumer drivers.
Mr Wang said: “We will cooperate with some governments to provide shared vehicles like a shuttle service; it could be a car or van, but for public use.”
Chinese bus maker Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co is already said to have tested a prototype self-driving bus on a 20 mile (33km) drive through central China and claims it has successfully changed lanes, passed other vehicles and responded to traffic lights.
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