Industrial Vehicles Become Autonomous in New Abu Dhabi Venture

A new name has arrived on the autonomous vehicle scene via the Middle East – SteerAI.

It has been launched by VentureOne, the commercialization arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, an entity of the Abu Dhabi government in the United Arab Emirates.

And SteelAI’s vision, according to VentureOne, is to transform “standard industrial vehicles into autonomous powerhouses.. 

Initially, SteerAI is setting its sights on companies operating in the logistics and defense sectors. Using technology supplied by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the ATRC’s applied research arm, it will offer hardware, a software stack and fleet management tech to provide autonomous functionality for ground vehicles.

These AVs, it claims, will be able to tackle complex missions with precision and efficiency, running between navigation points. Technical details have not yet been revealed, but we are told the software stack will work in tandem with the sensor suite to allow the SteerAI-equipped AVs to respond swiftly to hazards, maneuver around obstacles and operate in unmapped areas and challenging conditions.

Images and video released as press materials to mark the announcement show a variety of vehicles that the tech is apparently compatible with, ranging from small ATVs to SUVs, fork-lift trucks and even heavy duty trucks.

Related:Abu Dhabi Self-Driving Taxi Rollout a Success

As well as enabling autonomous mobility, SteerAI’s software also allows remote fleet management, including planning, monitoring and data-driven analytics for optimal deployment and performance.

Dr. Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of TII, said: “We have not simply created an autonomous vehicle — we have created an autonomous vehicle’s ‘brain’.

“The advanced navigation algorithms work with cutting-edge sensors as part of an efficient, modular system that can work on any vehicle, and that has the potential to transform the way we move.”

Abu Dhabi has emerged as one of the most ambitious places in the world when it comes to developing and deploying autonomous technology.

It announced plans to accelerate the rollout of self-driving taxis in August 2023, following the granting of a UAE-wide permit for China’s WeRide to operate there. In September, it was confirmed that WeRide’s robotaxis would be available on Uber in Abu Dhabi later this year.

It is also home of the pioneering Autonomous Racing League, which aims to take motorsport into a new era.

Hailing the launch of SteerAI, Faisal Al Bannai, adviser to the UAE President and secretary general of ATRC, said: “[This] is a significant milestone in solidifying the UAE’s leadership in autonomous technology. 

Related:WeRide Gets National Self-Driving License From UAE

“At ATRC, our vision is to continuously push the boundaries of innovation, and SteerAI exemplifies how we are turning groundbreaking research into real-world solutions that drive tangible impact.”