Ho Chi Minh City is about to test 100km/h drones

TPO - The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has just approved testing of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with a maximum flying speed of 100km/h and self-driving cars with a maximum speed of 20km/h.

TPO - The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has just approved testing of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with a maximum flying speed of 100km/h and self-driving cars with a maximum speed of 20km/h.

At the 19th session (special session) of the 10th tenure held on the morning of November 14, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council passed a resolution stipulating criteria, fields, and contents of support for controlled testing of new technology solutions in high-tech parks and concentrated information technology parks in Ho Chi Minh City.

The resolution applies to technological solutions related to drones and autonomous vehicles.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai at the meeting. Photo: Anh Nhan

Ho Chi Minh City has set out the basic criteria and technical specifications of the drone, such as: Wingspan, maximum body length of 1.57m; maximum height of 71.5cm; maximum take-off weight of 70kg; maximum flight speed of 100km/h; maximum flight altitude of no more than 200m. The flight range is specified only within the testing area.

For self-driving cars, the HCMC People's Council approved testing at a maximum speed of 20km/h, the vehicle's remote control needs to display travel information such as mode, time, battery voltage, satellite, and speed.

Drones and autonomous vehicles are required to be tested between 7am and 5pm every day.

Before passing this resolution, delegates at the session raised many issues regarding funding sources to support testing and technical standards for vehicles to which the policy applies.

Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the resolution should not specify too detailed technical parameters because it would be difficult to implement and apply.

"If businesses want to increase the wingspan to match the technology, it will be difficult and the decree must be amended," Mr. Vu cited and expressed concern about the testing time allowed from 7am to 5pm, because vehicles with night flight capabilities will encounter difficulties.

Responding to this, Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the technical conditions were given based on references to unmanned aerial vehicles and self-driving cars in the world, and opinions from many businesses and experts in the field. Therefore, the given parameters are suitable for the pilot and control the risks.

Delegates approved testing of drones and autonomous vehicles. Photo: Anh Nhan

According to Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai, the controlled pilot is the content of the locality recognizing the problem and asking for special mechanisms and policies. During this process, the locality has discussed and asked for opinions from central agencies to pioneer in this issue. In the spirit of taking science and technology as the foundation and driving force for innovation and growth, the city needs to invest and accept risks.

Regarding the opinions of some City People's Council delegates, Mr. Mai said that the City People's Committee will calculate specific technical parameters in the resolution. This is to match the constantly changing trend of science and technology.

At the end of the discussion, the delegates of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council unanimously approved the above resolution. The new policies related to controlled trials in Ho Chi Minh City will take effect from November 24.

The testing location for unmanned aerial vehicles is the High-Tech Park, and for autonomous vehicles, it is the High-Tech Park and Quang Trung Software Park. The testing location must have protective fences, monitoring systems, communication infrastructure, safety systems and rescue equipment.

Drones and autonomous vehicles need to be applicable in the fields of security and order; rescue; fire prevention and fighting; logistics, passenger transport; high-tech agriculture; environment; and art.

Organizations participating in controlled trials are allowed to use suitable premises and infrastructure in designated areas. The trials are exempted from licensing under the authority of Ho Chi Minh City and are registered for protection with patents, industrial designs, and trademarks.

The city budget and other legal sources of funding will invest in protective fences, surveillance systems, communication infrastructure, control systems, safety systems and rescue equipment.

Ho Chi Minh City will spend about VND5.76 billion to implement policies to support controlled testing of new technology solutions.

Of which, 4.8 billion VND is used to carry out testing items at Quang Trung Software Park, the remaining budget is spent on establishing an Advisory Council to evaluate testing results, and supporting registration for protection of inventions, industrial designs, and trademarks.

Mr. Nhan

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tphcm-sap-thu-nghiem-may-bay-khong-nguoi-lai-100kmh-post1691487.tpo