The Current Is Canada ready for driverless cars?
Jul 15, 2025
Stephen Waslander, director of the Toronto Robotics and AI Laboratory, and Bilal Farouk, Canada Research Chair in Disruptive Transportation Technologies, explore the future of driverless cars in Canada. They discuss a new robot delivery vehicle pilot project in Toronto, revealing both public excitement and hesitation. The experts delve into challenges such as navigating Canadian winter conditions, public safety, job impacts, and privacy concerns. Their insights highlight opportunities for innovation while addressing crucial regulatory and technological hurdles.
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Toronto Locals Spot Delivery Robots
- Local residents in Toronto are curious and intrigued by the appearance of robot delivery vehicles in their neighborhood.
- Many see these delivery robots as a glimpse of the future arriving today on city streets.
City Councillor's Concerns
- City councillor Diane Sachs highlights concerns about unauthorized provincial permits for autonomous vehicles.
- Safety, congestion, and privacy are key worries, especially with facial data collection in busy urban areas.
Canada's Autonomous Vehicle Landscape
- Canadian autonomous vehicle pilots are small scale compared to large deployments in U.S. cities like San Francisco.
- Canada is beginning with targeted pilot projects to evaluate use cases specific to its urban environments.