nuTonomy gets world’s first self driving taxis
Q. World’s first self driving taxis were launched by which company on 25th August 2016?- Published on 26 Aug 16a. Volvo
b. Google
c. Uber
d. nuTonomy
ANSWER: nuTonomy
Autonomous vehicle software startup nuTonomy has rolled out the world’s first self driving taxis in Singapore.
- Cab aggregator Uber plans to offer such rides in Pittsburgh.
- Select members of the public can hail a free ride through smartphones in texts operated by nuTonomy
- Multiple companies including Google and Volvo began testing self driving cars on public roads recently
- But this startup is the first to offer rides to the public
- NuTonomy is operating 6 cars currently and plans to have a fully driven taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018
- Taxis now run only in 6.5 square kilometre business and residential district called one north.
- Each car if fitted with six sets of detection system Lidar that uses lakers to operate like radar including one that spins constantly on the roof
- There are also two cameras on the dashboard to scan for obstacles and detect changes in traffic lights
- This could reduce the amount of cars on the road.
- nuTonomy is a 50 person startup with offices in Singapore and Massachusetts
- It was formed in 2013 by Iagnemma and Emilio Frazzle
- These MIT researchers were studying robotics and making autonomous cars for the US defence department
- Company was the first to win approval from Singapore’s government to test self driving cars in one north
- The startup also announced a research partnership with Singapore’s Land Transport Authority
- Singapore is suited for self driving cars because of its suitable weather, adequate infrastructure and strict observance of traffic rules on the road
- Singapore is a landlocked island with 5.4 million people living here
- Auto supplier Delphi is also working on autonomous vehicle software for this nation
- NuTonomy hopes to establish partnerships with automakers, tech companies, logistics firms and others
