Dubai honours self-driving transport challenge winners

Top self-driving transport projects have been recognised in Dubai as part of a major competition.

Prizes worth over AED 6 million were up for grabs at the 2nd Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport.

The competition was organised by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) under the theme 'Self-Driving Logistics'.

It's part of the RTA's efforts to support the Dubai Strategy for Self-Driving Transport, aimed at transforming 25 per cent of all mobility journeys in the emirate into self-driving means by 2030.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, honoured the winners of the latest edition during a ceremony held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

During the event, Sheikh Ahmed also announced the launch of the 3rd Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport under the theme 'Self-Driving Buses'.

Winners

Those honoured included Neolix (China) in partnership with Gaussin (France), and Yandex (Russia), who shared the first position in the Leading Companies Award (Pioneers). Each winning company received US$700,000.

Neolix Project focused on a vehicle equipped with a platform that can be configured for different use scenarios, with the highest payload capacity among all participants to enable simultaneous delivery of several goods.

The system is characterised by its adaptability to different scopes of operational design, road and pedestrian zone scenarios, and a well-designed driving programme focused on the safety of pedestrians, road users and packages during the various stages of transportation.

Yandex Ground Vehicle project offers a comprehensive solution in terms of mechanical design, automated driving programmes, and an integrated application.

It is also characterised by a strong performance in coping with dynamic, static and environmental obstacles, vehicle speed, and its ability to deliver the largest number of packages among the vehicles taking part in the challenge.

Local Academia

Winners in the category of local universities and research centres included Khalifa University, which won the Ground Robots and was awarded US$100,000 for designing a robot featuring a unique mechanical design tailored to rugged conditions and terrain.

It has a driving programme focused on risk management strategies, touchless package delivery, and the successful clearing of tests and obstacles.

The American University of Sharjah came second and won US$50,000 for developing a robot equipped with a set of advanced sensors and a built-in approach for detecting obstacles.

The robotic equipment and peripheral devices have been entirely designed and built by the team. The robot succeeded fairly in plotting the route and avoiding obstacles.

In the field of drones, New York University Abu Dhabi was the winner and received a prize of US$100,000 for a project that combines multiple helicopters in one plane.

It can lift large or asymmetric payloads and packages up to three kilogrammes with stable performance and advanced testing infrastructure.

Khalifa University finished second and won US$50,000 for its modified drone fitted with a dedicated cargo compartment.

It is characterised by rapid development and high reliability, and the ability to quickly deliver supplies in urban areas.

Under the patronage of @HamdanMohammed, @HHAhmedBinSaeed honors the winners of the 2nd Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport. The competition, held by @rta_dubai under the theme ‘Self-Driving Logistics’, offered prizes of over AED6 million.https://t.co/qzlDiMSDEt pic.twitter.com/vMtRhRw6ND

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 27, 2021