Chinese Tech Giant Baidu Unveils Driverless EV With Detachable Steering Wheel

As we hurtle towards the age of autonomous machines, many companies worldwide have introduced innovative concepts in recent years, such as an underground freight system, drone rescue system, and mobile robots. 

Now, China’s foremost search engine company, Baidu, has unveiled its next-generation fully autonomous vehicle, dubbed the Apollo RT6.

The car will be the first model built on Xinghe, Baidu’s self-developed automotive program. And the most exciting part? It comes with a detachable steering wheel. 

According to the firm, the driver’s ability to remove the steering wheel allows for more space in the vehicle, giving owners the option of customizing the interior with extra seating, an entertainment system, or even gaming consoles. 

Utilizing 38 sensors, including eight LiDARs and 12 cameras, the self-driving car manages to obtain highly accurate, long-range detection at all angles, having been tested over an astonishing 20 million miles on real-world roads. 

The Apollo RT6 is scheduled to hit roads next year as part of Apollo Go, the company’s ride-hailing service, and will eventually expand to a fleet of tens of thousands of self-driving vehicles on the road.

[via Input and Baidu / PR Newswire, images via Baidu / PR Newswire]