Autonomous Car Startup nuTonomy Gears Up to Debut its Driverless Taxi’s
We live in a world where technology is constantly expanding and improving, one major technology advancement in particular has nations across the world battling to release this product. From the title you have probably guessed what it is – driverless taxi’s!
Singapore is the nation currently leading the race, and nuTonomy are the company who aim to debut the taxis.
Who is nuTonomy?
Established during 2013 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, nuTonomy have hit the ground running. Currently they provide a similar service to Uber, in which customers can order a fully autonomous taxi service from a few clicks in their smartphone.
These taxis are already head and shoulders above standard taxis as they run on electric which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emission.
It doesn’t stop there, nuTonomy are continuously trying to enhance their taxi service. Their latest innovation of driverless taxis could take the taxi market by storm.
What are nuTonomy’s plans?
To release the first driverless taxi technology.
As mentioned, the technology industry is booming and always improving, nuTonomy hope to beat all other competitors in the race to debut this technology. Since January of this year they have raised over 4 million dollars for their work.
nuTonomy, the driverless car startup successfully passed its first stage in early April, and it is already setting its goal for the end of the year. nuTonomy aims to be released for public testing before we see the end of 2016, leaving all other competitors quite far behind. And it doesn’t stop there, the futuristic taxi innovators have set an even bigger goal of having thousands of driverless taxis all over Singapore, within just a few of years.
Why are Singapore frontrunners?
Singapore is known for its strict rules and regulations, however what you might not know is that approved legislation can be introduced very quickly on the island. In other words, change can happen fast!
Singapore’s government have allowed them to take the edge in the competition to develop a driverless taxi. Having invested millions into automated vehicles, the government is keen to see the benefits of driverless taxis.
Who are the competitors?
Although Singapore are reportedly ahead in the race, they are not alone.
The British have made their own 15 billion pound investment into the road planning sector. They have developed their own “Wi-Fi road” in England, which helps road users keep up to date on the latest traffic and travel news. They hope that the driverless vehicles will debut in early 2017.
In 2015, the Japanese government made a move to reduce the rules and regulations surrounding driverless cars being tested on public roads. They too hope to release the driverless technology in the coming years, with their goals firmly set to debut in vehicles by 2020, in time for the Olympics.
China is a little more behind in the race, due to their laws and regulations. Currently they only have rules around normal vehicles, there is nothing yet in place for driverless technology. With that being said, China are still making moves to develop driverless vehicles as the Chinese company Baidu has reportedly teamed up with BMW in the states to begin testing.
