South Korea's self-driving cars lagging behind due to regulations and lack of concrete support: Experts
- 5 years ago
The world's IT and auto giants are battling it out to develop the vehicles of the future: self-driving cars.
Many believe they will be the vehicle of choice in the coming decades, providing they can be provably safe.
Oh Soo-young reports.
Can Korea bring its automated car technology up to speed?
That's the question being posed at the Pangyo Autonomous Motor Show,
showcasing Korea's self-driving vehicles and technology.
"We've developed camera and rider technology which picks up on the lanes and the surrounding environment, as well as the ability to change lanes, make a U-turn and decide what to do at crossroads."
"Despite Korea's advanced IT and infrastructure making the country a good candidate for self-driving technology, certain restrictions have prevented the industry from taking off at full speed."
While the government aims to commercialise level two self-driving functions by the year 2020, European firms have already launched level three cars that can partially steer themselves.
In the U.S., some firms have already been testing fully autonomous vehicles with no driver behind the wheel.
Industry watchers say action is needed to ensure Korea does not fall further behind.
"In other countries, they're setting up a new industrial landscape for services based on self-driving cars. In Korea, we don't even have vehicles that can achieve such functions yet. Also, governments in such countries actively support developers despite small accidents and issues."
Countries like Germany and the U.S. allow autonomous vehicles to test drive on public roads.
However, in Korea, they can only be tested in select areas with a permit issued by the transport ministry,... and only if a driver is on board.
Also, there are safety and regulatory issues that haven't yet been resolved.
"Currently, there's on clear standard on who takes the blame when there's an accident. There's no blackbox optimised for automated cars right now. Such a system requires data, picked up by numerous sensors,... and that would have to be recorded, analysed and investigated by somebody."
Developers say they face complicated legal procedures to get approval for new technologies, and they need more support for the industry to advance.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Many believe they will be the vehicle of choice in the coming decades, providing they can be provably safe.
Oh Soo-young reports.
Can Korea bring its automated car technology up to speed?
That's the question being posed at the Pangyo Autonomous Motor Show,
showcasing Korea's self-driving vehicles and technology.
"We've developed camera and rider technology which picks up on the lanes and the surrounding environment, as well as the ability to change lanes, make a U-turn and decide what to do at crossroads."
"Despite Korea's advanced IT and infrastructure making the country a good candidate for self-driving technology, certain restrictions have prevented the industry from taking off at full speed."
While the government aims to commercialise level two self-driving functions by the year 2020, European firms have already launched level three cars that can partially steer themselves.
In the U.S., some firms have already been testing fully autonomous vehicles with no driver behind the wheel.
Industry watchers say action is needed to ensure Korea does not fall further behind.
"In other countries, they're setting up a new industrial landscape for services based on self-driving cars. In Korea, we don't even have vehicles that can achieve such functions yet. Also, governments in such countries actively support developers despite small accidents and issues."
Countries like Germany and the U.S. allow autonomous vehicles to test drive on public roads.
However, in Korea, they can only be tested in select areas with a permit issued by the transport ministry,... and only if a driver is on board.
Also, there are safety and regulatory issues that haven't yet been resolved.
"Currently, there's on clear standard on who takes the blame when there's an accident. There's no blackbox optimised for automated cars right now. Such a system requires data, picked up by numerous sensors,... and that would have to be recorded, analysed and investigated by somebody."
Developers say they face complicated legal procedures to get approval for new technologies, and they need more support for the industry to advance.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.