10-seater driverless car set for Downtown test
DUBAI — No need to panic. That car you might see driving along Downtown Dubai today with no one behind the wheel is the country’s first driverless car.
The 10-seater autonomous car will shuttle along a 700-metre track at the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard during its first trial run on the road.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Emaar Properties, will oversee the historic moment.
The ‘driverless’ vehicle is produced by Easy Mile/Omnix Company to travel short distances over pre-programmed routes in multiuse environments. The vehicle travels on virtual routes, which can easily be reset to accommodate sudden changes as required.
Speaking about the car, Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said the smart driverless mobility strategy was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
DUBAI — The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Emaar Properties, will, on Thursday, begin the trial run of the first autonomous 10-seater car shuttling along a 700-metre track at the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai.
“The trial run of the smart vehicle at the boulevard represents phase one of this technology,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA. “This experiment is also part of the RTA’s plan to test driverless transit technology under the climatic environment of Dubai.
“Through this trial run of the smart vehicle, the RTA intends to educate the public about autonomous car technology and the experimental use of the technology in Dubai’s climatic conditions.
“The experience also elucidates the smart driverless mobility strategy launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at switching 25 per cent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless journeys using various transit means by 2030,” added Al Tayer.
The ‘driverless’ vehicle is produced by Easy Mile/Omnix Company to travel short distances over pre-programmed routes in multiuse environments. The vehicle travels on virtual routes, which can easily be reset to accommodate sudden changes as required.
“The vehicle is also fitted with safety requisites and controls specifying its planned route. The sensor system as well as the intelligent system of the vehicle enable coping with any obstacles encountered en route to avoid collision,” added Al Tayer.
RTA launched in April the first trial operation of a ‘driverless’ vehicle during the opening session of Mena Transport Congress & Exhibition 2016.
Mohammed Ali Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties said: “We thank RTA for supporting our plans aimed at using driverless cars in Dubai downtown. The trial run of the vehicle is a further testament to the firm commitment of the Emirate of Dubai to encouraging sustainable transit means compatible with Dubai Plan 2021 for building a technologically-connected smart city.