News

Dubai Crown Prince Takes Test Ride In Self-Driving Taxi

The Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise AVs are helping to cement Dubai’s position as a global leader of self-driving transport.

Published

12 months ago

December 15, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai crown prince takes test ride in self-driving taxi

Dubai Media Office

Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently took the first demo test ride of a Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise autonomous vehicle (AV) in Jumeirah.

The Dubai Crown Prince was welcomed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police and a team of engineers from the RTA and Cruise. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said, “Autonomous vehicles will play a pivotal role in offering innovative solutions for transportation challenges, curbing urban congestion, and elevating road safety. They support the RTA’s efforts to leverage the integration between mass transport systems and easing the mobility of public transport riders, providing services to many underserved users such as senior residents and People of Determination”.

cruise self-driving taxi dubai test ride

In April 2021, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Cruise entered a partnership to introduce a self-driving ride-hail service. The testing of Cruise AVs marks a crucial step toward enhancing Dubai’s position as a global leader in self-driving transport. The emirate aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys to self-driving modes by 2030.

Also Read: Dubai Survey Drones Explore Minerals In Central Asia

In April this year, digital mapping for self-driving Cruise vehicles took place in Jumeirah 1 using the company’s HD mapping technology. Cruise initiated limited vehicle testing in October, deploying five autonomous taxis overseen by safety drivers. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority plans to soon introduce a public registration process, enabling selected residents to use the Cruise ride-hailing app.

News

Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent

According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.

As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.

Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.

Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…

— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024

The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.

A Collaborative Software Effort

Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.

Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.

Feature Set And Compatibility

The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.