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How Singapore became the ideal testing ground for self-driving cars - The tiny country has embraced autonomous vehicles as a way to overcome labor shortages and use its scarce land more efficiently. (restofworld.org)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Lugh to c/futurology

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[–] Lugh 2 points 3 weeks ago

Singapore's 6 million people live in an island country only 12 times bigger than Manhattan Island (which for contrast houses 1.6 million people). This makes them an ideal early-adopter for Level 4 self-driving vehicles. They work in geo-fenced areas that are well-mapped, which describes the entirety of this tiny country.

Level 4 robot-taxis, needing little human oversight, finally had their moment in 2024. Commercial services are now in operation in several US and Chinese cities. Their global expansion will be rapid from now on, and 2025 might mark the year they enter wider public consciousness.