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Search giant rolls out self-driving cabs

Internet search giant Baidu has launched trial operations of its Apollo Robotaxi in a pilot area of Changsha, capital of Hunan province, using a fleet of 45 self-driving taxis. The vehicles are empowered with Apollo's autonomous driving technology. During the trials, a human driver is assigned to each Robotaxi to take control of the autonomous system to ensure safety. Apollo Robotaxi is set to offer passenger rides in a pilot zone in Changsha covering a total area of 70 square kilometers and on 135 kilometers of open road. Within the pilot zone, Apollo Robotaxi is set to stretch about 50 km by the end of this year, then to all 135 km in the first half of next year. Changsha residents can apply to become test passengers after registering with Apollo's website.

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