What is the development of Volkswagen and Argo AI: the ID Buzz AD minibus
German automobile concern Volkswagen and Argo AI company from the USA at the Munich Motor Show presented a joint development – an electric automated minibus ID Buzz AD. The drone is ready for large-scale testing that will take place in Germany.
The minibus is equipped with 14 cameras, 6 LiDAR sensors, as well as 11 radars, which enable unmanned driving. ID Buzz identifies objects at a distance of more than 400 meters, and this figure is not reduced in conditions of limited visibility. Thanks to an innovative autonomous driving system from American developer Argo AI, the car may not require human control. This includes a full set of navigation maps and special software, which builds a 360-degree image of the surrounding power based on the received data. Synchronization of the software with sensors and various devices allows analyzing and predicting pedestrian behavior and vehicle movement.
According to the developers, after testing the ID Buzz on the roads of Munich, the minibus will be available for commercial use. This is expected to be in 2025.
The global market for unmanned transport is developing at a tremendous pace, and its potential is increasingly growing. According to expert forecasts, by 2030, the volume of the segment will reach the $60 billion mark. Now almost all major automobile concerns have divisions for the development and production of drones. In addition, more and more small companies are appearing in this segment, ready to present their unique projects. However, despite such activity on the part of the developers, in most countries there are still no clear legal rules for the use of unmanned vehicles. More often than not, such vehicles are at the testing stage, as this is a prerequisite for the issuance of a commercial release permit. Developers and regulators want to reassure themselves and reduce the risk of errors to zero, so research takes a lot of time and resources.
The most progressive in terms of the practical use of autonomous vehicles is China. They already have robotaxis, which transport people without a physical driver. So far, such trips are not long, but significant progress can be seen. The United States is also actively testing such transport in San Francisco, Arizona and other regions.
Russia is only planning to start testing autonomous In the near future, robotaxis from the Yandex Self-Driving Group should appear on local roads, with commercial release planned for 2024.
