Baidu has deployed its next-generation autonomous vehicle, the RT6, in several Chinese cities. These vehicles are Level 4 autonomous, meaning they can operate without a driver. The RT6 stands out for battery replacement and has an individual price of less than US$30,000 (R$174,030, in exact conversion).The sector is full of competition (Photo: Sarunyu L/Shutterstock) According to The Verge, the company is trying to validate its business model and moving forward with momentum. Today, Waymo, a company owned by Alphabet (owned by Google), and Baidu, launched their robo-taxis in several cities, giving the world a glimpse of the autonomous future. However, these vehicles only operate in geofenced areas and may sometimes face traffic restrictions.
Baidu bets big on robo-taxis Baidu stands out in terms of cost-benefit compared to Waymo and other competitors; Although the technology is growing rapidly, the economics of the autonomous taxi industry are not yet fully proven; The Chinese company hopes that its pricing reforms can have a significant impact in this regard; However, we still don't know how Baidu's fare reforms will affect the autonomous taxi market; Reducing the initial cost of the vehicle can be an important step towards increasing the economic viability of robots. But the question remains whether Baidu can maintain these vehicles safely and efficiently without compromising security. Read more:
10 things you should know before buying a car in Brazil How do cars work? Complete Guide to More Robot Startups in Los Angeles The launch of the RT6 and its battery replacement capabilities showcase Baidu's commitment to leading the way in the robotics industry.
As more autonomous vehicles hit the roads, it will be interesting to see how far the market evolves and how companies compete in terms of costs, services and user experience.
The future of personal transportation is rapidly approaching and Baidu is at the forefront of this change.
Rimac is another hackable alternative to Baidu (Photo: Courtesy/Rimac)