Starting today, select members of the public will be able to participate in the world’s first-ever public trial for autonomous taxis. The testing period will be ongoing and be held in the One-North business district (the area considered to be Singapore’s startup hub).
For the launch, US-based nuTonomy, a driverless vehicle R&D firm, has partnered with (and been financed by) EDBI, the corporate investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
The limited launch is meant to help the nuTonomy gather data.
“The trial represents an extraordinary opportunity to collect feedback from riders in a real-world setting, and this feedback will give nuTonomy a unique advantage as we work toward deployment of a self-driving vehicle fleet in 2018,” said nuTonomy CEO Karl Iagnemma in a statement.
Select Singapore residents will be invited to book a taxi (for free) through nuTonomy’s ride-hailing app. Riders will be joined by an engineer who will monitor the system as well as the passenger’s safety and comfort.
According to the Associated Press, when a reporter went on a test drive, the ‘driver’ had to apply the brakes once when one car obstructed vehicles path and another car (appearing to be parked) began to move into the lane.
For car geeks, the rides will be provided in a Renault Zoe (a hatchback) and a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric four-door. The two models have been integrated with nuTonomy’s autonomous technology.
Earlier this month, nuTonomy partnered up with the Land Transit Authority to support autonomous vehicle development in Singapore.
It is the only private company allowed to test and develop the technology in the city.
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Would this ultra-high tech vehicle be available in the Philippines? Hhhmmm, I would rather enjoy the self-driving cars overseas than making it available here in the Philippines. The taste of travel experience would be more memorable, for not making it ordinary.
xoxo, Blair
I would be a bit scared to go on a no-driver taxi. Fortunately there is an engineer assisting and monitoring!!!
ReplyDeleteActually I think it is exciting. No more getting fights with a lousy driver.
DeleteOh great. Sounds exciting😁 I Hope it grows and becomes available in other countries as well
ReplyDeleteIndeed. But I doubt it will available to my country. My fellow people needs discipline first.
DeleteThat's so cool! I love to check out a self driving cab!
ReplyDeleteThis might be the one in a movie, 20-years ago and its happening!
DeleteThis looks interesting ! I hate driving.It would be great when travelling to new places for this technology.Will you be trying this out ?
ReplyDeleteThis is really exciting! Another reason to make Singapore vacation more fun!
DeleteRead about this in papers.
ReplyDeleteThis should be a boon if it functions smoothly.
I know right! And if this car is powered by electricity then that more awesome!
DeleteI wonder what the rates would be like. On my last trip to Singapore, I found cabs expensive. Always preferred your MRT services as they were affordable.
ReplyDeleteI guess this will be quite more expensive, since they will only release few units. Eventually, fares will be cheaper.
DeleteYeah, MTR is way cheaper :)
That's sound awesome! It would be very convenient for travelers!
ReplyDeleteYes, convenience and stress-free travel around Singapore!
DeleteI will still wait for the concept to be fully tested and validated. It can get quite risky and scary when the technology is quite new.
ReplyDeleteyeah, that's why they only produce very limited number of units. And only available on few parts of Singapore
DeleteThis is really cool. i mean drive your own taxi is a great concept. i wish they start something like this in India too.
ReplyDeleteNothing is impossible Subhadrika! I also wish the same :)
DeleteAmazing that Singapore has adopted this already! I don’t see how Dubai can implement it as they need to create jobs at the end of the day…
ReplyDeleteMaybe soon Dubai will have a more advanced cab!
DeleteSelf-drive car is such a blessing, especially for someone who is travelling to another place! Thank you for this post. Will bookmark this for my future visits.
ReplyDeleteI think this is very suitable for our PWD brothers and sisters... and for our pets too!
DeleteThis sounds like a great idea! I would definitely use it when I travel, I would feel more comfortable than in a normal cab. I know that Google is testing their self driving car in the UK and maybe it will be ready by the time I'll get to apply for my driving license, haha.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for you getting your driver's license :)
DeleteInteresting initiative with these auto-driven cabs. Personally I would prefer riding the cabs with drivers. One of the highlights of my six year stay in Singapore was the numerous chats (sometimes arguments) with the drivers
ReplyDeleteHello Tamshuk,
DeleteI got to think of it: What if we humans live and no need to talk to fellow humans? Hhmmm that would be a real scary. :)
Quite a new concept but seems so risky too, personally I would prefer normal cabs with drivers. Let see how it works so that I get the chance to change my perception.
ReplyDeleteFingers-crossed Priyanka! :)Hope it will be a success.
DeleteThis: IS AMAZING. I have even been in one of the Google autonomous vehicles, but I had no idea that we were so close to launching an actual service in any city in the world. this is revolutionary. I can't wait to see how the public beta goes and for this service to spread across the world! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Judson,
DeleteYears back, this kind of vehicle can only be seen in our movie screen, but now its here! It's happening! Nothing is impossible :)
Self-driving cabs freak me out. I know Uber is starting them in the US soon and they are supposed to be safe. But I can't help and think that one day the machines will rule us all...
ReplyDeleteYeah, there are still some restrictions. But if we will always think and be diligent to apply that we (humans) are still superior with machines, then I guess we have less to worry about.
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