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Singapore becomes first to try out public self-driving taxis
A LUCKY few of Singaporeans can now call self-driving taxis with their smartphones, in the world's first public trial of autonomous driving technology.
But an engineer from Singapore startup nuTonomy taxis will still ride at the wheel to monitor performance and take control if necessary, reports Bloomberg.
Invited members of the public can summon a car from a fleet of six reconfigured Renault Zoes and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs to ferry them within a 200-hectare (77 square miles) research and high-tech business park.
"The technology is maturing to a point where commercial services are becoming possible once you're able to prove the reliability and safety," said nuTonomy chief operating officer Doug Parker.
"I would say it'll happen sooner rather than later," with fully autonomous cars that run without safety drivers possible in five years, he said.
Self-driving taxis came into focus after Uber Technologies Inc said it will soon allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon autonomous cars with their phones.
Like nuTonomy's trial, that fleet of specially modified Volvo XC90 SUVs will be supervised by humans in the driver's seat.
NuTonomy, which has raised about US$20 million from mostly US investors, doesn't have plans for an initial public offering for now, Mr Parker said.
But an engineer from Singapore startup nuTonomy taxis will still ride at the wheel to monitor performance and take control if necessary, reports Bloomberg.
Invited members of the public can summon a car from a fleet of six reconfigured Renault Zoes and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs to ferry them within a 200-hectare (77 square miles) research and high-tech business park.
"The technology is maturing to a point where commercial services are becoming possible once you're able to prove the reliability and safety," said nuTonomy chief operating officer Doug Parker.
"I would say it'll happen sooner rather than later," with fully autonomous cars that run without safety drivers possible in five years, he said.
Self-driving taxis came into focus after Uber Technologies Inc said it will soon allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon autonomous cars with their phones.
Like nuTonomy's trial, that fleet of specially modified Volvo XC90 SUVs will be supervised by humans in the driver's seat.
NuTonomy, which has raised about US$20 million from mostly US investors, doesn't have plans for an initial public offering for now, Mr Parker said.
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