RTA, DFF teams visit USA to study latest driverless technology

Dubai / WAM

A delegation from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), reviewed the latest technology and research on driverless vehicles during a visit to the Carnegie Mellon University and Uber Company in the United States.
The visit was part of efforts to develop the Dubai Driverless Transport Strategy Project.
Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Licensing Agency and Chair of Smart Vehicles Committee, RTA, said, “The visit was part of the current project endorsed by the RTA following the launch of the Dubai Government Strategy aimed at converting 25 percent of mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless transport by 2030. The visit was planned to gain exposure on the latest developments of smart vehicles and various apps produced by labs at Carnegie Mellon University, and review the best practices of driverless transport strategy in this regard.”
“During the visit, the delegation convened with several specialists in the research centres of the National Robotics Engineering Centre at the university to examine the latest technologies and robot systems used in various apps. They also met with the team specialising in the development of autonomous driving systems,” Bahrozyan added.
Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems at RTA’s Public Transport Agency said, “The team paid a field visit to familiarise themselves with the advanced main traffic lights system at Pittsburgh. The university is currently overseeing a scheme to fit all junctions with communication devices enabling the exchange of information between light signals and vehicles signal time, number and positions of vehicles, among others to slash the journey time and, in the process, cut environmental pollution.”
The delegation also visited a research centre to gain a first-hand experience of a driverless vehicle commuting in city streets, which has assisted in identifying the potentials as well as the limitations of the technology.