Canadian University in Dubai (CUD) students have put together a solar-powered driverless car for transit between two campus buildings, the universityannounced on its website. 22 senior students from various faculties worked in teams to develop the vehicle’s navigation system, power capacity and bodywork, and chassis.

Who did what: Five teams focused on central procession design and controls and management related to handling the inputs from the vehicle’s camera, light detection and ranging (lidar) system sensors. Another team was tasked with supplying power to the installed electronic devices through a PV panel on the roof to charge the traction battery to supply a 60-volt power supply.

UAE eyes being a pioneer in autonomous mobility: The UAE granted its first national license for self-driving vehicles to China’s WeRide earlier this month — a first in the Middle East and “even globally,” according to a statement. The license grants WeRide the right to conduct various road testing and operations of self-driving vehicles in the country.

All under an ambitious plan: Dubai aims to have 25% of its transportation achieve fully autonomous operations by 2030, according to officials. In June, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi allowed visitors to the city’s Saadiyat Island and Yas Island to experience the technology through a model branded “TXAI” which was launched between WeRide and local firm Bayanat.

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