Cleared by the South Korean authorities, Samsung is partnering with Hyundai to test its autonomous driving hardware and algorithms.
Autonomous car tests are the craze in the field of technology right now, and the latest big entrant in this field is none other than Samsung. The South Korean electronics giant has received clearance from the country's regulators to test-drive its autonomous vehicles around South Korean roads, a plan that had been in the pipeline for a while now.
Samsung is partnering with Hyundai for the autonomous car tests, and will not be making a completely new car by itself. The news incidentally follows the first sighting of a Lexus crossover fitted with LIDAR, imaging devices and sensors that was reported to be Apple's first ever autonomous vehicle being tested in California. Apple's intentions behind making a car had been around for a while, and most of preliminary guesswork had stated that the company will be making its own car and use proprietary technology in it. Such plans have been seemingly scrapped, and Apple, like the number of other companies working in this field, will be providing the technology that will power the autonomous vehicles for multiple carmakers.
Samsung, too, is reportedly going in the same direction. The company has partnered with Hyundai, which itself is into testing its own autonomous electric vehicle, and will be providing sensors, imaging modules and other equipment along with advanced artificially intelligent programmes to make cars "observe" and "learn" the roads, just like a human being. Other biggies that are working in a similar format include Google with Waymo, which has a running contract with Chrysler for its autonomous driving technology. The company recently started its road tests with real passengers, and those who sign up and are eventually selected will get free rides in Waymo-powered Chrysler Pacifica minivans.
Samsung, meanwhile, also has Harman's expertise under its own wing, which it will possibly use for improving its autonomous driving services. It is not yet clear as to which Hyundai car will be used by Samsung for its autonomous tests. Hyundai itself uses a modified version of its all-electric Ioniq, which shows nearly no noticeable contraption of radars and looks significantly more refined. More details are expected to be unveiled soon, with the field steadily heating up as technology giants Google, Apple and Samsung all line up to present their own versions of self-driving technology.
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