Autonomous cars have entered a test phase in Budapest; the two vehicles presented on Thursday will be driving through the streets of the city’s 1st District during the trial. At the demonstration held in Buda Castle, László Palkovics, the government commissioner responsible for artificial intelligence, said that if these cars can operate autonomously in the Castle and its surroundings—such a complex traffic environment—then “there is no place in the world where they could not.” He recalled that the European Union has set a goal of zero road fatalities by 2050. Drivers are responsible for accidents with a 90% probability, while autonomous technologies help prevent traffic accidents and reduce environmental impact, he added. He highlighted that Hungary is contributing to both global goals: first in Budapest, and later in other cities, the two vehicles will be deployed in different environments. In the coming period, the public will also have broader opportunities to get acquainted with them.
Hungary built its first vehicle capable of lane detection and avoiding unintended lane departure as early as 1996. Hungary has long contributed to the development of autonomous devices: it is now capable not only of manufacturing vehicles but also of developing and testing them, he declared. In Zalaegerszeg, one of the world’s most modern automotive test tracks has been built, suitable for testing autonomous vehicles, the commissioner recalled. Hungary aims to remain a key player in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, and future focus areas are already emerging—such as the development of humanoid robots, he added.
Source: Hungary Today
