Yandex, a Russian hi-tech multinational specialised in internet-based products, introduced its fourth-generation driverless car in June. Developed with Hyundai Mobis, the new 2020 Hyundai Sonata joins Yandex’s existing autonomous fleet operating on Moscow streets since March. By the end of 2020, Yandex plans to integrate more than 100 of these new Sonatas into its robo-taxi service in Innopolis, Russia, as well as in Detroit, USA.
Self-driving cars use cameras, radar and lidar systems to scan the surroundings in 360° for road markings, traffic signs, vehicles, people and any other objects in the environment. It then uses this information to plot its own route through the area.
The fourth-generation Yandex system features an improved sensor set. Three new cameras with different focal lengths have been added, the radar system has been moved to the roof for better all-round detection, and the front fender lidar has been repositioned to strengthen side visibility. In parallel, the Hyundai Mobis team improved the electronic control units’ interface with Yandex technology. By expanding its fleet with these fourth-generation vehicles, Yandex now expects to advance its self-driving technology even faster.