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Dubai is revving up for a driverless future

The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which aims to transform 25 per cent of the total transportation in Dubai to driverless modes by 2030, looks set to achieve its objective much before the timeline, given the active participation of more global leaders in autonomous transport at Gitex Technology Week.
The UAE telecom major etisalat has on display at its stand three new car models that are already in the ongoing autonomous race.
Etisalat is showcasing at the Technology Week underway at Dubai World Trade Centre, Tesla Model X connected with Etisalat M2M Control Centre and M2M & IoT Command Centre.
Dr Ahmed bin Ali, senior vice-president corporate communication, Etisalat Group, said etisalat's objective is to drive the digital future by taking the lead in innovation to bring futuristic technologies from around the world to UAE and the region. 
"This year we have again unravelled the connected car platform with Tesla, which highlights etisalat's connected car platform designed to meet the growing consumer demand for revolutionary technologies and help the automobile industry to launch futuristic platforms and vehicles," Ali told Khaleej Times.
Also on display at etisalat stand is Rinspeed Etos Concept Car, yet another example of how disruptive innovations and new digital technologies are changing the world of mobility at an unprecedented speed.
The "old world" of the traditional automaker meets the "new world" of software and algorithms. One thing is certain: It is precisely these changes and tomorrow's possibilities that Swiss powerhouse of ideas Rinspeed now makes tangible and real with the self-driving "Etos" concept car.
The third model on display is Mercedes-Benz F015 - Luxury in Motion, which is more than a car - it is a generational leap.
F015 is based on a future scenario that holistically envisions a transformed transportation and mobility ecosystem. The futuristic car falls in line with the Mercedes-Benz CASE strategy for future mobility - based on the four pillars of connected, autonomous, shared and electric drive. The German car maker will position the brand as a forerunner in the mobility revolution. Every facet of the F 015 Luxury in Motion is the utmost reflection of the Mercedes way of interpreting the terms "modern luxury", emotion and intelligence. This innovative four-seater is a forerunner of a mobility revolution, and this is immediately apparent from its futuristic appearance. Sensuousness and clarity, the core elements of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy, combine to create a unique, progressive aesthetic appeal. The interior as a digital living space.
Ali said Autonomous transportation is another technology, which is attracting a lot of interest worldwide and on etisalat stand this year with Mercedes-Benz F 015 research vehicle and Rinspeed Etos concept car. "This also supports the Dubai government's strategic direction and long term vision for Smart Driverless Mobility," he said.
One core theme of the innovative interior concept of F015 is a continuous exchange of information between vehicle, passengers and the outside world. Six displays are installed to this end all around, tastefully mounted in the instrument panel and the rear and side walls, making the interior of the F 015 Luxury in Motion a digital living space - a perfect symbiosis of the virtual and the real world. Passengers are able to interact intuitively with the connected vehicle by means of gestures or by touching the high-resolution screens.
In 2015, etisalat and Japanese automobile giant Nissan joined hands to introduce the Middle East's first connected car deployment. That global launch of the 'Nissan SmartCar' mobile application during Dubai International Motor Show 2015 has marked the beginning of the connected-car ecosystem in the Middle East.
In 2016, etisalat signed a agreement with Toyota Tsusho at Gitex for collaboration in delivering "scalable, secure, interoperable and intuitive connected" car solutions and experiences to customers.
All these underscore the leading role of etisalat in the UAE connected car market with all top leaders of the car industry. In this deployment, Etisalat enables connectivity for Tesla's UAE for in-car infotainment, telematics and remote vehicle diagnostics, the telecom operator said.
In 2016, a UAE-based company DigiRobotics unveiled the country's first 3D printed autonomous vehicle at 36th edition of Gitex. The self-driving car, called WiGo, marks the UAE's first 3D printed unmanned vehicle that has been manufactured, assembled, and programmed in the UAE.
The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, launched in 2016, envisages futuristic transport solutions ranging from driverless cars and buses to Hyperloop commuter solutions. The vision incorporates all mass transit modes including trains, buses, boat and taxis, as well as private vehicles.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) commenced field testing in Downtown Dubai with a commuter shuttle vehicle, the EZ10, in August 2016.
Dubai is leading the cities of the world by taking a big leap in the adoption of artificial intelligence and establish a global model of the city of the future.
The RTA is planning to test driverless buses in dedicated lanes. It is anticipated that self-driving, flying cars are set to be showcased at Expo 2020 in the Emirate. The first test runs of an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) capable of carrying a human, the Ehang 184, took place already.
- issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com