South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. became the second non-automobile-related Korean company to test its self-developed autonomous car equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and deep-learning technology on domestic roads.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Monday that it issued a permit for test run of Samsung Electronics’ autonomous vehicles developed by its own research team.

Samsung Electronics has become the country’s first electronics company to join the race on self-driving technology. The car has become the 19th car that has received the Korean government approval since February 2016 following cars developed by Hyundai Motor, Seoul National University, Hanyang University, Kia Motors, Hyundai Mobis, Korea Transportation Safety Authority, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Naver Labs and Mando.

The transport ministry said the autonomous vehicle technology that used to be limited to automakers and university labs has drawn in the IT and electronics sector. Permitted vehicles can run all around the country except for protected zones for children, senior and disabled citizens.

Samsung refurbished Hyundai Grandeur sedan with self-driving technology backed by various components and sensors including radars and Lidar. Lidar is a sensing technology that is used to calculate distance between objects by sending beams of light and measuring the time it takes to return. The car is also built on deep-learning technology that enables to detect obstacles on the roads and make decisions by itself.

Samsung Electronics said it will develop differentiated self-driving technology with its advanced component capabilities including sensors and memory and learning ability to cope with unexpected weather conditions.

By Song Sung-hoon and Chun Jung-hong

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