Skip to main content

Drive.ai self-driving tests with passengers in Frisco, Texas

Drive.ai is using self-driving vans to carry passengers on a near two-mile route in Frisco, Texas. According to a report by CBS News, the company is the first to launch such a test since an Uber vehicle driving in autonomous mode killed a pedestrian in Arizona. These vans will operate over the next six months, with a safety driver on board, and will travel between an office park and a nearby dining area and entertainment complex. Conway Chen, vice president at Drive.ai, says the service has been desi
July 31, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Drive.ai is using self-driving vans to carry passengers on a near two-mile route in Frisco, Texas. According to a report by %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external CBS News false https://www.cbsnews.com/news/self-driving-passenger-vans-hit-the-road-in-texas-city/ false false%>, the company is the first to launch such a test since an 8336 Uber vehicle driving in autonomous mode killed a pedestrian in %$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 35413 0 link-external Arizona false /categories/utc/news/uber-ends-self-driving-programme-in-arizona/ false false%>.


These vans will operate over the next six months, with a safety driver on board, and will travel between an office park and a nearby dining area and entertainment complex.

Conway Chen, vice president at Drive.ai, says the service has been designed around the Uber incident.

"It is something that we have absolutely designed around, and we are taking every precaution that we can to make sure that type of incident doesn't happen,” Chen adds.

These vans come with radar on the grill, infrared Lidar sensors and ten cameras on the roof to provide a 360-degree view of the road. The vehicles also feature screens on their sides, front and rear to alert pedestrians and drivers of their movements.

Drive.ai intends to add more destinations over the next six months and phase out the safety driver.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Toyota unveils online map for traffic in Japan
    July 18, 2019
    Toyota has released an online map which provides information on road closures and natural disasters in Japan. The company says users can check data from the past hour to 24 hours and carry out searches on areas of heavy traffic. The real-time data is based on the T-Connect/G-Book telematics service information from communications systems in Toyota’s vehicles, and the map is accessible from a smartphone, computer or other devices.
  • Flir webinar – how to detect bicycles in mixed traffic
    May 27, 2015
    Flir Traficon Academy’s latest webinar, How to Detect and Count Bicycles in Mixed Traffic, takes place on 28 May at 0730 CEST, 1330 CEST and 1830 CEST. The webinar will demonstrate the power of thermal imaging technology in making a distinction between cycles and other vehicles and explains in detail the functions and features of the detector.
  • Ennis-Flint acquires Italian markings manufacturer Vernisol
    March 21, 2018
    It’s a marriage made in Amsterdam! US-based Ennis-Flint has acquired Italian markings manufacturer Vernisol - both Intertraffic exhibitors. Ennis-Flint, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of road marking materials, announced the deal, saying that Vernisol’s “strong, experienced management team, workforce and sales team” will remain in place to provide uninterrupted service to customers. Bruno Trentini, Vernisol managing director, will also remain a significant shareholder. “Our
  • Flir Academy training courses
    January 7, 2016
    FLIR Traficon Academy is organising a variety of online training in January 2016, including ITS solutions for traffic management and Flir ThermiCam, where participants can learn how its ThermiCam/TrafiSense sensor can be used for pedestrian presence detection, bicycle presence detection, vehicle presence detection, inverse direction detection, and data collection. The company is also offering traffic training on intersections and crossings in May. Visit the Flir website for more information on the ran