- Approved to test deep-learning based self-driving cars on public roads
- Will use a commercialized Hyundai with the latest cameras and sensors
- News come a few days after Apple's self-driving car was spotted on US roads
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The self-driving car market is set to reach $42 billion by 2025 and a new report has revealed that Samsung wants a piece of the action.
The South Korean electronics maker has recently been approved to test it deep-learning based autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Although the firm has been very quiet about the project, it has developed a 'commercialized Hyundai vehicle equipped with the latest cameras and sensors' that will be used during testing.
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Samsung received approved to test it deep-learning based autonomous vehicles on public roads. It plans to use a 'commercialized Hyundai vehicle (stock image) equipped with the latest cameras and sensors' that will be used during testing
The news was first shared online by The Korea Hearald, which said Samsung received its approval from the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The ministry has been working towards easing regulations on self-driving cars in the country – in a bid to not fall behind the rest of the world.
So far, the agency has been able to decrease the number of passengers required to ride in the vehicle from two to just one.
And it has also 'paved the way' for automobile manufactures to begin producing cars without steering wheels or pedals.
'Self-driving cars call for the collaboration of various cutting-edge technologies from the automobile, artificial intelligence and information communication sectors,' the ministry said.
In 2015, Samsung had revealed that it was setting up a team to develop a car components business focusing on autonomous driving technology and entertainment systems.
And prior to the announcement, the firm was already making chips that are used in self-driving cars.
In 2015, Samsung had revealed that it was setting up a team to develop a car components business focusing on autonomous driving te chnology and entertainment systems. And prior to the announcement, the firm was already making chips that are used in self-driving cars
However, the firm set out to focus on building its competencies in infotainment and autonomous driving vehicles', Samsung said in its annual business reorganization plan in 2015.
Samsung is the latest tech giant to join the self-driving car race and its approval comes just a few days after an image surfaced of Apple's self-driving car test vehicle.
The vehicle was spotted with an array of sensors and other equipment, according to the person who saw the vehicle and provided photos to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg journalist Alex Webb tweeted this GIF of Apple's self-driving test car, which comes a few days before Samsung revealed it will be testing its own selff-driving cars. The images wer e captured by a passerby as the car emerged from a Silicon Valley research facility
The sensors used by the vehicle appeared to be bought off the shelf rather than custom-made by Apple, according to an industry expert who saw the photos.
They included Velodyne Lidar's top-of-the-range 64-channel sensor for obstacle detection, at least two radar and a series of cameras.
Cameras can be seen at the back, top, front and sides of the car.
California's state Department of Motor Vehicles announced that Apple officially secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in the state on April 14.
Apple joins a growing list of traditional car-makers, technology companies, and small start ups to test drive cars in California.
Pictured is one of Apple's self-drivi ng vehicles snapped at the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2013. A monitor in the top right shows the image made by a 360 degree laser scanning device that creates a 3D image around the vehicle
All are vying to be the first company to bring self-driving cars to the masses.
Companies that have been issued permits also include Alphabet Inc's Google unit, Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG, Tesla Motors Inc and General Motors Co.
Many companies have said the first cars will launch in 2020 but some experts believe it may take much longer due to regulatory challenges.
After a five-page letter last November from Steve Kenner, Apple's director of product integrity, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company was under increased speculation that they would enter into the competitive self-driving space.
'The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation,' Mr Kenner wrote.
California's state Department of Motor Vehicles announced that Apple officially secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in the state on April 14. Apple joins a growing list of traditional carmakers and technology companies to test-drive cars in California
Apple executives have been coy about their interest in cars.
Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems.
Rumors began sweeping the web last year that Apple was toying with the idea of developing its own self-driving car.
And along with news word of mouth, came radical visual designs.
A concept released by Luca Wrede showed a build that mirrored the minimalist design common to Apple products.
A wraparound dashboard screen shows speed, traffic predictions, and answers calls.
The vehicle can pull up Apple Maps, Safari, and Siri, which are indicated all on the interactive dashboard.
The concept car can even connect to the Apple Watch.
This video is just the latest installment of the unraveling rumors surrounding 'Project Titan,' and may open the door for more questions than it answers.
The firm could see offering consumers its own car as a way to push their technology into the driver seat.
However, shortly after, Apple announced it would be shifting its focus to another ventur e.
The tech giant said it would put more energy into creating the software for an autonomous vehicle, opening the door to the possibility of partnering with other car companies.
But the latest news reveals that Apple is sticking to its original plan.
