TSMC Accuses Former Executive of Leaking Trade Secrets as Taiwan Prosecutors Launch Investigation 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Banks Consider $38 Billion Funding Boost for Oracle, Vantage, and OpenAI Expansion 
Australia Releases New National AI Plan, Opts for Existing Laws to Manage Risks 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Intel Boosts Malaysia Operations with Additional RM860 Million Investment 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature 
ByteDance Unveils New AI Voice Assistant for ZTE Smartphones 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
AI-Guided Drones Transform Ukraine’s Battlefield Strategy 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
It would seem that the tiny port city of Singapore is quickly becoming a hotspot for emerging self-driving trends. Last August, a startup company launched the first test of self-driving taxi cabs, beating Uber to the punch in the process. Now, self-driving scooters have made their debut, which is perfect for helping to minimize accidents involving people who simply can’t let go of their phones while walking.
Scooter enthusiasts might want to curb their surge of interest, however, as these self-driving mopeds are only meant to be driven on sidewalks or footpaths, Reuters reports. At about 110 lbs in weight and going for 4 mph, the vehicle isn’t exactly fit for the actual road. Aside from the fact that it is far too slow, it also wouldn’t stand up to getting hit by other vehicles.
The scooter was developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore. It’s one of their many experiments involving driverless vehicles, which is something that the city-state is pushing for right now. Thanks to the limited space and the sparseness of labor, autonomous vehicles and machinery would be a huge help in helping to supplement productivity.
As for the self-driving technology installed in the vehicle itself, laser sensors are installed in the vehicle to detect obstacles, including objects and people. Once it detects an obstruction, the scooter slows down or stops, depending on the situation.
The sensors work for up to 2.5 meters directed at the front of the vehicle and 10 centimeters on the sides, TechXplore reports. Those figures might not seem much, but it’s worth remembering that this is meant to be a pedestrian vehicle. It can also be used indoors for places like malls, hotels, the many food arcades of Singapore, and really big houses.
The scooter still requires some more adjustments in order to function effectively, especially since its avoidance system still lags by a few seconds. The university is still doing more tests in order to refine the scooter’s functionality.
