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Dubai Community Launches AI-Powered Pedestrian Crossings
The new safety system can activate flashing signs, lights built into the road surface, and traffic signal controllers.
A new AI-powered pedestrian crossing has been developed by Dubai-based specialists Derq. The new system will be installed in a local neighborhood as a smarter method to warn pedestrians and vehicles of potential conflicts.
The AI-based crossing will use behavior prediction models to anticipate potentially harmful scenarios and then deploy flashing signs, in-road warning lights, and traffic signal controllers to alert anyone in the vicinity of danger.
The system will also collect data to enhance road user awareness and the effectiveness of authorities’ responsiveness to safety problems and traffic performance. The technology has taken two years of rigorous testing to bring to fruition.
The crossing is equipped with ultra-high speed 5G connectivity, enabling data collection of safety events and traffic while allowing for remote operation, maintenance, and re-configuration. In the future, the system will leverage 5G technologies to communicate safety information and alerts to connected vehicles approaching the crosswalk.
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Muammar Al Katheeri, chief officer for engineering and sustainability at Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), explained: “This system serves as a cornerstone in cementing DSO’s position as a technologically advanced zone, offering residents and business partners a seamless and intelligent living and working experience. Through our longstanding partnership with Derq, we will continue to make remarkable progress in ensuring pedestrian safety and advancing Dubai’s smart city agenda”.
According to Dr. Georges Aoude, co-founder and CEO of Derq, the new AI-powered pedestrian crossing system aligns with Dubai’s vision to establish itself as a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly city with a range of eco-friendly transportation options.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.