Brief: Baidu launches Apollo, an open platform for self-driving car tech

A junction in Shanghai. Photo credit: Carlos ZGZ.

• Chinese search giant Baidu today announced a new project called Apollo, an open platform meant to help partners in the automotive and autonomous driving industry develop their own self-driving systems.
• Apollo will include a vehicle platform, hardware platform, software platform, and cloud data services. Baidu will also open source code in obstacle perception, trajectory planning, vehicle control, vehicle operating systems, and more, as well as testing tools.
• In July, Baidu will open its self-driving technology for restricted environments, before sharing it with cars driving autonomously in “simple urban conditions” at the end of the year. By 2020, Baidu plans to introduce fully autonomous driving capabilities on highways and open city roads.
• The Chinese tech firm is partnering with various automotive companies, including BAIC Motor, BYD, and Chery – though it had a falling out with BMW last year, citing strategic differences. In March, Baidu invested an undisclosed amount that is said to be at least US$100 million into NextEV, a Chinese electric car company.

Source: Baidu.

Photo credit: Carlos ZGZ.