How self-driving vehicles are tested before hitting the road

After test of basic moves, developers put up a demo along a designated route

- Esther Loi

A self-driving vehicle undergoing its first test on a 1.8ha circuit in Boon Lay on Sept 25. Some of the obstacles it encountered were a human pedestrian walking across a zebra crossing, a jaywalking dummy pedestrian, and a stationary dummy in the middle of the road. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

(ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN)

Before self-driving vehicles can start plying the roads here, they need to pass a series of tests, starting with one similar to a driving test for motorists.

At a 1.8ha circuit at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Boon Lay, developers of self-driving vehicles have to complete their first test of basic manoeuvres on a track modelled after regular public roads.

This first test also examines an autonomous vehicle’s (AV) ability to stop and react to stationary and moving obstacles, as well as its capacity to make emergency stops.

On Sept 25, The Straits Times observed one of the first self-driving shuttles in Punggol - operated by ride-hailing firm Grab and Guangzhou-based AV company WeRide - undergoing this particular test during a media visit to the centre.

The shuttles underwent training and preparatory works over 1 1/2 months before they passed the test.