The fatal crash involving Xiaomi's SU7 electric vehicle on a Chinese expressway has raised concerns about the safety of its autonomous driving system. The incident occurred when the driver assistance feature was enabled, but it failed to prevent the collision, resulting in three fatalities and a fire.
Xiaomi's Weibo account showed that the system had warned of potential obstacles just seconds before the accident occurred. However, this raises questions about the effectiveness of the technology and its ability to handle complex situations.
The car was equipped with the standard version of Xiaomi's smart driving system, which lacks LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology. This has sparked debate about the trade-offs between cost and safety in autonomous vehicle development.
The incident highlights the need for further research and development in AI-powered autonomous vehicles, particularly in areas such as sensor technology and edge case scenarios. Xiaomi's decision to use a less advanced system has put a spotlight on the importance of prioritizing safety and transparency in the development process.