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WeRide Granted First Self-Driving Vehicle License In UAE
The Chinese autonomous driving company may soon deploy robotaxis and robobusses across the Emirates and beyond.
Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide was the first company in the world to hold driverless permits for testing in both China and the USA. Now, the autonomous technologies experts have secured a license to deploy self-driving vehicles in the UAE, having already completed public testing on some routes within the Emirate.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the news on Twitter: “We approved the first national license for self-driving vehicles on the country’s roads, which was granted to a specialized WeRide company”.
Dubai aims to make 25% of its transportation completely autonomous by 2030, so the permit comes at an ideal time. Last month, as part of the Eid al-Adha holiday services, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi announced that visitors to Saadiyat and Yas Islands could experience free autonomous driving car rides, including a vehicle called “TXAI”, which was launched by WeRide in partnership with a local company Bayanat.
Also Read: UAE’s du Teams With Huawei For Net-Zero Telecom Services
WeRide has developed its state-of-the-art technologies through WeRide One, which the company describes as a “one-for-all and all-for-one platform for urban autonomous driving applications. Designed with high flexibility on both the software and hardware levels”. The platform uses self-evolving deep learning systems to prioritize safety, plus AI algorithms and a fusion of camera, LiDAR, and radar to replace human operators.
In a recent press release WeRide said, “In the future, WeRide will continue to deepen its presence in the Middle East region and bring high-quality autonomous driving technology, products, and services to more customers and consumers”.
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.
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.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
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