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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Saturday 17 February 2018
Pyeongchang Olympics showcases Korean self-driving vehicles

By PIETRO DECRISTOFARO formerly state-owned Ko-
and YOUKYUNG LEE rea Telecom, is focusing on
PYEONGCHANG, South self-driving cars becoming
Korea (AP) — There's a the new data-guzzling de-
competition at the Py- vices of the future.
eongchang Winter Olym- Self-driving cars consume
pics that has nothing to do enormous amounts of data
with sports, and plenty to as sensors and chips moni-
do with jousting between tor road conditions and an-
automakers and tech com- alyze them in real time. KT,
panies over autonomously along with Intel and Sam-
driving vehicles. sung Electronics, has built
South Korea's largest auto- 5G networks as a trial ser-
maker and a local telecom vice in the Olympic towns
firm haggled for months to handle those mountains
over who would get to of data. Since it has the
claim the exclusive right to telecoms, not automotive
label its vehicle as "autono- sponsorship, for appear-
mous." In the end, Hyundai ances' sake KT agreed not
Motors rolled out an "au- to present its two "5G con-
tonomous" sedan while KT nected" buses to the media
Corp.'s self-driving bus was as driving unmanned, even
christened the "5G Bus." In this Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, photo, KT Corp.'s self-driving bus "5G Bus" is parked in Gangneung, though that's how they
South Korea.
The self-driving vehicles on Associated Press are operating in the sea-
display at the Winter Olym- side town of Gangneung,
pics are showcasing South it's unclear which sponsor- ous town. cars and piqued interest where Olympic ice hockey
Korea's prowess in both ship category they belong In a one-time test before since the government aims and skating matches are
automotive and telecoms to." the opening ceremony to see self-driving cars com- underway.
technology. In the end, a compromise for the games, Hyundai mercialized by 2020." Leading global telecom
They took to the roads only was worked out. had the Nexos drive 190 Kwon Hyoung-Geun, head carriers plan to roll out 5G
after a sponsorship battle Hyundai Motor Co., the lo- kilometers (118 miles) of of Hyundai's Intelligent networks in 2020. Such net-
over whether such vehicles cal sponsor for the trans- highways from Seoul to Py- Safety Research Team, said works process data about
should be considered a port category and the eongchang. The vehicles the Nexo demonstration 100 times faster than cur-
form of transportation or a world's fifth-largest auto passed through toll gates focuses on autonomous rent fourth-generation wire-
new kind of internet-con- group, is seeking to dispel and navigated junctions driving on public roads with less networks, a speed that
nected device, like smart- its image as a latecomer in and tunnels without human steep curves, hills, tunnels, enables users to download
phones. autonomous driving. In Py- feature-length movies in a
Each Olympic corporate eongchang, it also is get- matter of a couple of sec-
sponsor gets exclusive ting a jump on Japanese onds.
marketing rights in its own rivals that are preparing to KT plans to begin 5G servic-
industry, so a blurring of deploy self-driving cars at es — the bus is one exam-
boundaries between in- the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ple — across South Korea
dustries can lead to fric- with its five autonomous in 2019. Despite its sponsor-
tion, said Kang Joon-ho, a Nexo fuel-cell cars. They ship rivalry with Hyundai, it
sports marketing professor are navigating without di- also is providing 5G data
at Seoul National University. rect human control within a networks to the Nexos,
"It's not clear whether we range of about 7 kilometers whose rear seats are out-
should see self-driving cars (4 miles) from the Olympic fitted with 5G entertain-
as vehicles or software, so stadium in the mountain- ment services. The 5G con-
nected buses are like giant
moving smartphones, with
passenger seat windows
In this Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, photo, Hyundai's autonomous made of transparent dis-
fuel cell electric vehicle Nexo is driven along a road near the plays instead of traditional
Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Associated Press glass that serve as screens
for watching movies or
displaying fictional land-
controls or interruptions. traffic lights, intersections scapes, instead of just the
It was the culmination of and roundabouts. view outside the bus.
years of preparation, and Hyundai is partnering with While some riders might
development of 3D maps U.S.-based self-driving prefer just to gaze at the
by the government. technology startup Aurora landscape, Kim Hyung
"South Korea started late Innovation to develop self- Joon, a senior vice presi-
but we are at a level where driving vehicles that can dent at KT, says the tech-
we can pull off autonomous operate without human in- nology will liberate drivers
driving even in complicat- put in most conditions, aim- to relax and watch movies.
ed, difficult situations," said ing to begin sales by 2021. Unfortunately for interna-
Kim Jin-hoo, a deputy di- Analysts expect Hyundai tional visitors, seats on the
rector at the transport min- to launch self-driving taxis connected 5G buses that
istry. "We hope the event or ride-hailing services by will be operating through
has helped ease public then. As the local sponsor Feb. 22 are all already
fears toward self-driving for wireless networks, KT, booked solid.q