UPDATED 21:52 EDT / AUGUST 31 2017

EMERGING TECH

Samsung’s the latest company to start testing self-driving cars in California

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will be the latest company to test self-driving vehicles on California roads as the South Korean-giant received permission to do so from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

The company was keen to differentiate itself from some others in the space, saying in a statement that “while we have no plans to enter the car-manufacturing business, we are excited to help develop and deliver the next generation of automotive innovation.”

Samsung’s self-driving car technology development ambitions were first revealed in May when it was granted a license to test vehicles in its home country of South Korea. At the time, it was reported that Samsung was developing “top-of-the-line sensors … computer modules backed by artificial intelligence” and “deep-learning technologies to improve cars’ self-driving capabilities even in challenging weather conditions.”

Although it wasn’t specified in the new application, it’s expected that Samsung will be using the same vehicles developed in partnership with Hyundai Motor Co. when it announced testing in South Korea.

Not all of the self-driving car technology Samsung is developing originated in-house, coming instead via its acquisition of Harman International Industries Inc. for $8 billion in November. Harman, which is best known as a maker of car radio and music players, also makes smart car devices and had started developing self-driving car technology prior to its acquisition.

Samsung joins a growing list of companies that have gained permission to test autonomous vehicles on California roads. They include Waymo Inc., Apple Inc., Uber Technologies Inc., Tesla Inc. and a range of car manufacturers, including Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Daimler AG, BMW Group, Volkswagen Group, Nissan Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Subaru Corp.

The news itself comes as U.S. legislators are set to debate a law that would permit automakers and tech giants to obtain exceptions to federal safety rules that would make testing self-driving vehicles across the country easier to undertake. According to Recode, the SELF DRIVE Act still leaves ultimate permission to approve testing to state authorities but stops them from regulating their design.

Photo: nanpalmero/Flickr

A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:

Your vote of support is important to us and it helps us keep the content FREE.

One click below supports our mission to provide free, deep, and relevant content.  

Join our community on YouTube

Join the community that includes more than 15,000 #CubeAlumni experts, including Amazon.com CEO Andy Jassy, Dell Technologies founder and CEO Michael Dell, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, and many more luminaries and experts.

“TheCUBE is an important partner to the industry. You guys really are a part of our events and we really appreciate you coming and I know people appreciate the content you create as well” – Andy Jassy

THANK YOU