China’s search engine giant Baidu Inc unveiled its new autonomous vehicle (AV) with a detachable steering wheel, with plans to put it to use for its robotaxi service in China next year.
As Baidu’s 6th generation autonomous vehicle, Apollo RT6 is distinct from previous generations that were otherwise retrofitted on conventional vehicles. The steering wheel-free design unleashes more space to craft unique interiors, allowing for the installation of extra seating, vending machines, desktops, or gaming consoles.
Apollo RT6 integrates Baidu’s most advanced L4 autonomous driving system, powered by automotive-grade dual computing units with a computing power of up to 1200 TOPS. The vehicle utilizes 38 sensors, including 8 LiDARs and 12 cameras, to obtain highly accurate, long-range detection on all sides. Lidars are detection systems, similar to radars, which use pulsed laser light rather than radio waves.
Designed for complex urban environments, Apollo RT6 will be put into operation in China in 2023 on Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service. Cost per unit will drop to 250,000 yuan ($37,031.55) for the new model, compared with 480,000 yuan for the previous generation, Baidu said in a statement.
Waiting on the Regulators
Automakers and tech companies worldwide are still waiting for nods from regulators to deploy such vehicles in the real world.
The vehicle will hit the roads without a steering wheel once Chinese authorities approve it, said Baidu Senior Vice President Li Zhenyu at the conference, adding that the driving capability of Baidu’s new AV can match a skilled human driver with over 20 years of experience.
General Motors and Ford Motor have asked U.S. auto safety regulators to grant exemptions to deploy a limited number of self-driving vehicles without human controls like steering wheels and brake pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 20 published the separate petitions and opened them for public comment for 30 days.
NHTSA has the authority to grant petitions to allow a limited number of vehicles to operate on U.S. roads without required human controls. Both automakers want to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles a year, the maximum allowed under the law, for ride-sharing and delivery services. Neither seeks approval to sell self-driving vehicles to consumers.
A Ford spokesperson said the “petition is an important step toward helping create a regulatory path that allows autonomous technologies to mature over time, eliminating controls and displays that are only useful to human drivers.”
The Vexnova Take
Removing parts that are designed for human control is the natural progression of autonomous vehicles. Steering wheels, pedals, mirrors, driver seat functions will be removed to create an environment designed for passenger comfort and entertainment.
The most intriguing aspect of these news is the timing for launch. It is a very real possibility that in 12 months there will be vehicles on the road missing steering wheels and being utilized beyond testing stages.