Chinese tech giant Baidu has announced a new autonomous vehicle platform that could help car manufacturers produce self-driving vehicles faster. Called Project Apollo, Baidu says the platform encompasses both hardware and software, providing partners with the tech and open-source code needed to help their own vehicles perceive obstacles, plan their routes, and otherwise move around our world.
Baidu says it will first open up Project Apollo for cars operating in restricted environments in July.
Baidu says it will look for partnerships, working with companies who provide “the best and most compatible vehicles, sensors, and other components” with which to test the platform.
The release comes as Baidu moves to position itself at the forefront of the autonomous vehicle industry. The Chinese company has aimed for the ambitious goal of getting a self-driving car to market by 2018, and is challenging rivals such as Google on its home turf.
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