SK Telecom has developed self-driving technology suitable for vehicle sharing service with a research team of Yonsei University. This is the first time in Korea that it has obtained a temporary driving permit by applying deep learning-based self-driving technology to compact cars.
As the space of compact cars is small, it was difficult to install equipment for self-driving cars within the vehicles in the past. Accordingly, the study has been carried out for small and medium-sized cars.
SK Telecom said on Oct. 4 that it has miniaturized and light-weighted equipment to install high-performance computing platform, a built-in vehicle sensor, and a deep-learning steering control tool for self-driving cars within compact cars.
Compact vehicles are widely used for car-sharing services because of their low maintenance costs and ease of management. The two sides plan to pursue a research that combines self-driving technology with car sharing service following the approval of self-driving license for compact cars.
For example, if a customer calls a car to his or her home or office, he or she plans to upgrade the technology that enables a self-driving car travels to the relevant place. In addition, it is planning to develop technologies for self-parking technology.
"The reason why SK Telecom succeeded in developing self-driving cars that enhance driving ability through deep learning is because SK Telecom and Yonsei University have been working for synergy effects. We will continue the study to graft self-driving technology on various fields, including vehicle sharing service," said Director Park Jin-hyo of ICT Technology Institute of SK Telecom.