XPeng is usually known as the Chinese language challenger to Tesla for its efforts to deliver superior driving capabilities to its electrical autos. It’s now getting a step nearer to its American counterpart because it eliminates high-definition mapping in its XNGP assisted driving characteristic, its equal to Tesla FSD.
Tesla FSD famously doesn’t depend on HD maps, which comprise many particulars similar to lane strains, curbs, site visitors indicators and extra. Using this pre-computed info, mixed with sensors like radars and cameras, can assist autonomous driving automobiles to know the street higher and thus drive extra safely.
Tesla not solely opted out of HD maps but in addition made the controversial transfer to eradicate lidars, the highly effective gentle detection and ranging technique that’s a staple sensing know-how within the improvement of self-driving automobiles.
XPeng nonetheless makes use of lidars, but it surely’s taken on a technical problem by rolling out map-free XNGP in 20 Chinese language cities quickly, the corporate announced at its tech day on Wednesday. Being map-free means XPeng’s city assisted driving characteristic can drive wherever, limitless by the place maps have been made or street situation up to date. By the top of this yr, the map-free XNGP will likely be out there in 50 Chinese language cities.
It’s an fascinating time to witness XPeng’s tech improvement progress as the corporate transitions into a brand new period after dropping its former head of autonomous driving to Nvidia.
Different autonomous automobile groups in China are additionally racing to take away the costly HD maps. Deeproute, which has shifted its focus from creating robotaxis to assisted driving for mass-produced passenger automobiles, unveiled its map-free autonomous driving resolution in March.