Samsung's self-driving technology may have surpassed Apple and is targeting Google

Since 2012, the most fascinating and heart-wrenching battle in the technology circle has been the epic confrontation between Apple and Samsung. Now, it is very likely that we will see the scene of the two sides fighting each other in the automotive field again. The traditional automotive field is no longer lonely now. Because autonomous driving is becoming more and more interesting.

Since 2012, the most fascinating and heart-wrenching battle in the technology circle has been the epic confrontation between Apple and Samsung. Now, it is very likely that we will see the scene of the two sides fighting each other in the automotive field again. The traditional automotive field is no longer lonely now. Because autonomous driving is becoming more and more interesting.

Let’s take a look at Samsung’s autonomous driving today.

According to the Korea Herald, Samsung has received permission from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea to test its autonomous driving technology on South Korean roads on May 2. The autonomous driving car that Samsung has been allowed to test on the road is modified from a Hyundai car and equipped with the latest developed sensors and camera equipment.

Let's sort out some key information. First of all, Samsung's self-driving car is modified by Hyundai, which is amazing... What's the magic? Samsung didn't use its own Samsung car? Oh, maybe some people don't understand it, let's sort out the relationship first. Samsung Car is basically our domestic Renault. Renault owns 70% of Samsung's shares, so Samsung Car in South Korea can basically find corresponding Renault models or Nissan models in China... Huh? How come there is another Nissan model. This has to mention that Renault and Nissan have a relationship. In fact, as early as 1995 in the last century, Renault bought 36.8% of Nissan's shares, became Nissan's largest shareholder and formed a Renault-Nissan alliance.

Well, Samsung said that it was helpless. The complicated relationship between a Korean company and a Japanese company made Samsung feel very complicated. After all, the relationship between South Korea and Japan may be worse than that between China and Japan... South Korea's patriotism is even worse than that of China. If Koreans knew that the Samsung cars on the streets were Nissan re-branded, the consequences would be disastrous...

We have gone off topic, let's get back to the topic of autonomous driving. The relationship should have been explained clearly. In short, Samsung has its own cars. Samsung's autonomous driving car is a modified Hyundai car, but it is not a Samsung car?

What’s even more interesting is that just last month, the US market research firm Navigant Research released a ranking in the field of autonomous vehicle strategy and execution, evaluating 18 companies around the world that are developing autonomous driving systems. Renault ranked third in the overall ranking, and Hyundai was only tenth.

It should be noted that Navigant's ranking is a combination of technology, marketing, channels and sales. In short, who is more capable of popularizing autonomous driving?

In short, Samsung's first choice is Hyundai instead of Renault and Nissan, which have close relations with them? Are you kidding me?

It took so much time to explain the relationship, which shows that Samsung's autonomous driving may not have much to do with Renault and Nissan. Instead, it is a Samsung group business with a higher positioning, even at the same level as mobile communications!

Back in late 2015, Samsung did announce that it was setting up a team to work on self-driving car technology. It was said that the team would focus on components rather than building a complete car. So it seems that the team has been working quietly for a year and a half.

The test vehicle is equipped with the latest developed sensors and camera equipment, and the ambiguity here allows for a lot of speculation.

Samsung's research and development of autonomous driving has been largely unreported in recent years, so it's hard to know whether it's self-developed. However, Samsung Ventures invested in a startup called Nu Tonomy in early 2016. Speaking of Nu Tonomy, this is an incredibly awesome autonomous driving startup with a prominent background. It was incubated internally at MIT and co-founded by Karl Iagnemma, a doctoral student at the school, and Emilio Frazzoli, a professor of aerospace engineering. The former serves as CEO and the latter as CTO. Both have more than 10 years of research experience in the field of autonomous driving.

Although I have never believed that cars below L4 have commercial value, Nu Tonomy actually launched a driverless taxi business in Singapore in 2016. What is interesting is that their driverless car is in cooperation with Renault Zoe. Is it related to the above again? Is it a coincidence? Just ask you, is it amazing? Is it a surprise?

It is true that experts can tell whether it is real or not with just one look. If Samsung uses Nu Tonomy's technology, then there is no doubt about it. Of course, this is just speculation.

Of course, whether Samsung has the strength to develop its own technology is also very possible. With the strength of Samsung Group and the promotion of the government, I believe that even if the entire autonomous driving power of the Republic of Korea lies in Samsung...

Everyone may have overlooked that in 2016, Samsung Electronics spent $8 billion to acquire the American auto parts manufacturer Harman, and Baidu also announced last month that it will jointly develop in-vehicle artificial intelligence solutions with Harman.

So, Samsung has a deep layout, but it is relatively low-key. Just like today's news did not attract much attention.

Samsung can already test its autonomous driving technology on Korean roads. Think carefully about this sentence and you will feel something. It seems that it has been tested in advance, but it may be on a closed road.

In fact, Korean media also reported in early 2016 that Samsung has planned to transform the Speedway track of Everland, South Korea's largest theme park, to test self-driving cars. In addition to adjusting the track itself, Samsung will also add some real-world obstacles to the track, such as intersections and other road conditions.

After digging up to here, it is horrifying to think carefully. Is Samsung really just entering the market now? Several facts have told us that Samsung may have accumulated a lot of technology. And it is very likely that the technology is beyond our imagination. It may not be a big deal to surpass Apple. Samsung's target is Google.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.