Boost for autonomous cars

Geely has launched 11 new low-earth orbit satellites into space to help improve the navigation of its autonomous cars.

The Chinese carmaker’s second dispatch of devices is part of its plans to have 72 satellites in orbit by 2025 before eventually hitting a target of 240.

The satellites were fired into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwestern province of Sichuan on February 3, reports Reuters, and come after Geely’s first launch in June 2022. 

Besides providing high-precision positioning support to self-driving cars, Geely says its network will serve other commercial functions such as connectivity to the consumer electronics sector.

It notes the satellites feature AI remote-sensing functions that provide one-to-five-metre clear high-resolution remote-sensing imaging.