Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Beep begins operating ‘America’s first’ fully autonomous public transit system in Jacksonville

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Beep, a provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, has begun operating the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s autonomous vehicle service, Navi (Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation).

Navi, the nation’s first fully autonomous public transportation system, launched in Jacksonville, Florida this week.

Backed by a five-year operations and maintenance contract, Beep will operate and maintain the Navi service, which is part of the JTA’s groundbreaking Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program. The company is also announcing the closing of $52.7 million in a funding round co-led by Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital. [Read more…] about Beep begins operating ‘America’s first’ fully autonomous public transit system in Jacksonville

Exclusive interview: Bot Auto CEO on why autonomous trucking must prove its economics before it scales

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Following our recent coverage of the challenges facing autonomous trucking, Robotics and Automation News now interviews Xiaodi Hou, co-founder and CEO of Bot Auto, to explore a different approach – one focused less on flashy demos and more on cost-per-mile performance.

Hou, a veteran in autonomous driving and AI, is taking aim at the industry’s reputation for over-promising and under-delivering.

With a PhD in Computation and Neural Systems from Caltech and a background in machine learning and computer vision, he brings both technical depth and commercial realism to the table. [Read more…] about Exclusive interview: Bot Auto CEO on why autonomous trucking must prove its economics before it scales

Torc plans new Michigan engineering center for autonomous vehicle innovation

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Torc, a specialist in commercializing self-driving class 8 trucks, says it plans to establish a new engineering center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

As Torc continues its path toward commercialization in 2027, this strategic expansion will further accelerate the company’s productization efforts and tap into the region’s rich automotive and technology talent pool.

As part of its effort to open the Ann Arbor location, Torc worked closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to secure incentives to support the expansion into Michigan, as Torc plans significant hiring in this region to grow its team and technical talent capabilities. [Read more…] about Torc plans new Michigan engineering center for autonomous vehicle innovation

Autonomous racecar beats human-driven lap record at Autodromo di Modena circuit

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a global university competition advancing autonomous technologies through high-speed racing, has once again made history. (See video below.)

For the first time ever, an autonomous vehicle has set a track record faster than one achieved by a human driver.

The milestone was achieved at Italy’s Autodromo di Modena, where an IAC AV-24 racecar, engineered by IAC and piloted by AI driving software from Unimore Racing, surpassed the previous lap record held by a Lamborghini Huracán STO. Watch the full video of this record-breaking autonomous lap here. [Read more…] about Autonomous racecar beats human-driven lap record at Autodromo di Modena circuit

Kodiak selects Roush as manufacturing partner to upfit trucks

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Kodiak Robotics, a provider of AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, and Roush Industries, a product development supplier serving various industries, say they will work together to scale upfitting of autonomous trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s advanced AI-powered autonomous solution.

Starting in the second half of 2025, Roush will upfit these trucks in its facility in Livonia, Michigan.

The first trucks Roush will upfit are expected to be for Kodiak’s customer, Atlas Energy Solutions, as Kodiak and Atlas work to expand the driverless operations they began in December 2024. [Read more…] about Kodiak selects Roush as manufacturing partner to upfit trucks

Volvo automates handling of vehicle steering if tire blows out

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Volvo has further refined its “dynamic steering system” with a new function that can detect a tire blowout and “immediately take action to keep the truck safely on the road”.

The new generation of Volvo Dynamic Steering is designed to detect a front tire puncture and in a split second automatically mitigate the impact by assisting the driver to keep the truck on a steady course.

The system reduces the side forces that a sudden loss of tire air pressure can create in the case of a flat tire. [Read more…] about Volvo automates handling of vehicle steering if tire blows out

Industrial vehicle automation specialist ASI opens new office in Utah

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Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), an industrial vehicle automation specialist and developer of the Mobius autonomous fleet management system, has broadened its presence within the state of Utah with the addition of an office in Lehi, part of the Salt Lake City metro.

ASI’s expansion, along with its ever-growing employee base at its headquarters in Mendon, Utah, makes it one of the fastest-growing technology companies within the state.

ASI’s increased US presence follows last month’s announcement of the launch of ASI’s construction business unit with SoftBank Group Corp. [Read more…] about Industrial vehicle automation specialist ASI opens new office in Utah

From Dubai to the NYSE: Interview with Micropolis Robotics CEO

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In a world rapidly embracing automation and artificial intelligence, one company is architecting the very fabric of tomorrow’s cities.

Fresh from a landmark debut on the NYSE American stock exchange, Micropolis Robotics is executing a meticulously planned strategy to scale its autonomous innovations for a global market.

Under the guidance of founder and CEO Fareed Aljawhari, the company is moving decisively from high-impact pilot programs with partners like the Dubai Police and The Sustainable City to full-scale commercialization, with a clear roadmap for growth and profitability. [Read more…] about From Dubai to the NYSE: Interview with Micropolis Robotics CEO

Navigating the ‘messy middle’: Safety and compliance considerations for autonomous fleet transition

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By Glen Mitchell, head of product management, Powerfleet

The transformation from traditional driver-operated trucks to fully autonomous vehicles isn’t happening overnight.

Instead, fleet operators find themselves navigating what industry experts call the “messy middle” – a complex transition period where human drivers, semi-autonomous systems, and emerging regulations intersect in unpredictable ways.

Recent milestones underscore the rapid evolution of this landscape. Aurora Innovation launched America’s first commercial driverless truck operations on Texas highways in May 2025, completing over 1,200 miles without a safety driver. [Read more…] about Navigating the ‘messy middle’: Safety and compliance considerations for autonomous fleet transition

Volvo achieves milestone with over 1 million tonnes hauled autonomously at Brønnøy Kalk

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Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) has reached a major milestone in mining efficiency and productivity, successfully hauling over one million tonnes of limestone autonomously for customer Brønnøy Kalk in Norway.

This achievement underscores the transformative impact of autonomous technology in the mining and quarrying industries.

To date, the autonomous transport solution at Brønnøy Kalk in Velfjord, Norway, has covered more than 220,000 kilometers—the equivalent of over five laps around the equator – and moved 1 million tonnes of limestone, approximately the weight of 273 Eiffel Towers. [Read more…] about Volvo achieves milestone with over 1 million tonnes hauled autonomously at Brønnøy Kalk