Dubai self-driving challenge to cover ground transport, drones

Dubai - The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 16, at the conclusion of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the second edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport under the theme 'Self-Driving Logistics Services' to cover ground transport and drones.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 16, at the conclusion of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport. The move is aimed at broadening the scope and applications for potential companies that will take part in the challenge, according to Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors.
"Dedicating the second edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport to self-driving logistics services stem from RTA's endeavours to support the logistical sector in Dubai. Studies indicate that there are about 6,000 shipping companies in Dubai and more than 64,000 trucks of various loads, which generate about 306,000 trips per day, thus accounting for about 13 per cent of total daily mobility trips in Dubai," noted Al Tayer.
"Commodity dispatch during the first and last-mile challenge in the city is among the top services with immense impact on the economy as a whole. Therefore, it is anticipated that new operation models or innovative vehicles will be developed for delivering goods in the first and last mile in the near future," he added.
Al Tayer noted: "Dubai Word Challenge for Self-Driving Transport is a key component in supporting RTA's efforts towards realising Dubai Smart Autonomous Strategy, to transform 25 per cent of mobility journeys in Dubai into smart and self-driving modes by 2030."
The RTA will receive submissions starting March 2020, and winners will be announced in October 2021.
According to the RTA, more than 700 technology leaders and innovators were present and about 3,000 visitors visited the inaugural self-driving transport congress in Dubai.
"The event was marked by rich discussions and ideas spotlighting the future of self-driving transport technologies, improving the technological infrastructure, and developing legislation to govern self-driving transport," Al Tayer said.
Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency and Chairman of Smart and Sustainable Vehicles Committee, RTA, added: "The two-day congress held 40 workshops and seminars in which 80 global speakers delivered speeches about four key topics: legislation and laws, connected vehicles and infrastructure, public acceptance of autonomous vehicles and e-security."
The congress also underlined the importance of the communication process between vehicles and light signals, for instance, to step up the security level. Cities have an important role to play to mitigate the risks of crossing interchanges by such type of vehicles.
angel@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai