Singapore sets up center to test deployment of self-driving vehicles

To enable Singapore to move closer to its goal of deploying self-driving vehicles (SDVs) for shared transport, the city-state's authority has initiated a center to test the deployment of SDVs, according to a statement from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday.

The Center of Excellence for Testing & Research of AVs - NTU (CETRAN), launched by LTA, JTC Corporation (JTC), as well as the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), will spearhead the development of testing requirements for SDVs, as there is no existing international standard.

And this would allow SDVs to be integrated with existing road traffic, which is an important step for widespread deployment of SDVs, according to the statement.

These efforts will be supported by a CETRAN Test Circuit, which will provide a simulated road environment for the testing of SDVs prior to their deployment on public roads.

"Although many countries and cities are testing self-driving vehicles, we have yet to see international standards and regulations suitable for large-scale deployment of SDVs," said Josephine Teo, senior minister of state for transport.

"The launch of CETRAN and the Test Circuit will put Singapore at the global forefront to develop such standards, to safely integrate SDVs into our transport system," she added. Endit