News 25 August 2016
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Author: Marisa Lee

Madting – Self driving taxis are finally here!

Author Marisa Lee
25 August 2016
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The future is truly here. Today marks the day that passengers can be picked up by self-driving taxis, and Singaporeans can now get a free ride through their phones in taxis run by nuTonomy.

The autonomous vehicle software start-up company is the first to actually transport the public, beating Google and Volvo who have been testing self-driving cars for years.

NuTonomy is still small with only six cars currently running, but the launch is beating Uber who are planning to offer rides in autonomous cars in Pittsburgh in a few weeks. What a time to be alive.

GRM Daily

At the moment, riders must have an invitation to be picked up by the cars, but the company’s ultimate goal is to have a full fleet of self-driving taxis in Singapore by 2018, and they’re hoping the move will roll out to other cities across the world.

The cars use cameras to detect traffic light changes, and the steering wheels turn by themselves.

GRM Daily

25 year old Olivia was nervous at first when she got into the car and watched the steering wheel move, saying, “It felt like there was a ghost or something.” But, the ride was smooth and controlled, and she was impressed as the car recognised small obstacles in the road like birds and motorbikes.


What do you think, would you trust a self-driving taxi?