Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

The commercialization of Autonomous driving technology in the trucking industry has rapidly advanced in 2024, presenting substantial potential to address critical industry challenges such as high operational costs, driver shortages, and safety concerns.

It is expected that the global trucking fleet will be supported by an additional half million L4 autonomous drivers, while the remaining drivers will either transition into supervisory roles or continue to operate in less developed regions.

IDTechEx’s recent research on more than 10 companies in the autonomous trucking sector reveals that the industry has officially entered the commercialization phase, marked by deep collaborations across the global supply chain.

[Read more…] about Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

May Mobility and NTT partner to promote autonomous driving services

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May Mobility and telecommunications giant NTT have embarked on a collaboration which they say aims to “continuously provide reliable and safe autonomous driving services in Japan”.

NTT Docomo was selected as the service provider for the Aichi Prefecture government’s Autonomous Driving Operation Project and will conduct autonomous vehicle operations as a regular service, using May Mobility’s technology provided through this collaboration.

Additionally, the companies are pleased to announce the plan of an autonomous driving pilot at the NTT Central Training Center. [Read more…] about May Mobility and NTT partner to promote autonomous driving services

Beep and Mississippi university launch autonomous bus test

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Beep, a provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, has launched C.A.B. or Campus Autonomous Bus, at Mississippi State University (MSU), marking Mississippi and Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) first-ever autonomous pilot program.

Celebrated on September 20 at a ribbon cutting ceremony on MSU’s campus, the pilot completed weeks of continued testing and validation and is now available to all students, faculty and guests of MSU for transit.

C.A.B. is currently scheduled to operate through the end of the year and will give MSU a chance to evaluate how autonomous transportation systems can be used on campus to diversify its existing fleet of transportation assets. [Read more…] about Beep and Mississippi university launch autonomous bus test

Teleo secures orders for 34 autonomous vehicles for heavy industry and plans to expand beyond construction

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Teleo, a company building autonomous technology for heavy construction equipment, is expanding its strategic focus to deploy autonomous heavy machinery – such as wheel loaders, terminal tractors, excavators, and more – into new industries beyond construction.

The company made the announcement at UP.Partners’ UP.Summit. It also revealed that it has secured orders for 34 machines and has secured nine new customer deals in the pulp and paper; logging; port logistics; munition clearing; and agriculture industries.

Teleo is also targeting expansion into other industries such as airports; waste and recycling; logistics; warehousing; and more. Additional orders have been placed that expand Teleo’s presence in the snow removal and construction industries, including the company’s entry into the Australian market. [Read more…] about Teleo secures orders for 34 autonomous vehicles for heavy industry and plans to expand beyond construction

Peachtree Corners launches autonomous vehicle in partnership with May Mobility and T-Mobile

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Peachtree Corners, a smart city in the state of Georgia, United States, has agreed a partnership with autonomous driving technology provider May Mobility to implement its autonomous vehicle solutions.

The implementation will utilize the vehicle 5G communications infrastructure Peachtree Corners has developed in the city with T-Mobile.

This marks May Mobility’s first-ever deployment in the state of Georgia, providing its one-of-a-kind on-demand autonomous solution for reliable transportation. [Read more…] about Peachtree Corners launches autonomous vehicle in partnership with May Mobility and T-Mobile

Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst, IDTechEx

In recent years, the promise of the public transport revolution has been teased by autonomous buses and roboshuttles. These technologies promise to deliver significant cost reductions for operators and alleviate labor pressures.

More than 50 autonomous bus and roboshuttle players once competed in this space. However, as the autonomous driving industry evolved during 2022-2024, the commercialization progress of autonomous buses and roboshuttles has been slow, falling short of industry expectations.

IDTechEx has observed a yearly decline in the number of active companies from 2020 to 2024, and large-scale commercial testing has not been achieved. Roboshuttles need to overcome the uncertainties posed by dynamic routes and the performance challenges of navigating narrow urban streets.

[Read more…] about Decelerating progress for autonomous buses and roboshuttles, says report

Nuro to license its autonomous driving system to automakers

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Nuro has decided to license its Nuro Driver autonomous driving system directly to automakers and mobility providers to “to accelerate autonomous vehicle development and deployment timelines”.

The Nuro Driver is built on Nvidia’s end-to-end safety architecture, which includes Nvidia GPUs for AI training in the cloud and an automotive-grade Nvidia Drive Thor computer running the Nvidia DriveOS operating system inside the vehicle.

The Nuro Driver has demonstrated its reliability and safety in real-world conditions with more than 1 million autonomous miles completed across its fleet of R&D vehicles and zero at-fault incidents. [Read more…] about Nuro to license its autonomous driving system to automakers

Planzer and LOXO partner to release autonomous commercial vehicle in Switzerland

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Planzer and LOXO have unveiled what they say is a “ground-breaking achievement” – the first autonomous driving commercial vehicle to navigate the streets of the Swiss capital, Bern, with the aim of achieving full L4 driving autonomy.

The co-pilot project ‘Planzer – Dynamic Micro-Hub w LOXO’ brings city logistics to a new level.

Everywhere, cities and metropolitan areas are urgently seeking sustainable transport solutions as the consequences of climate change and emissions become increasingly evident, and ever more congested streets severely impact supply chains.

[Read more…] about Planzer and LOXO partner to release autonomous commercial vehicle in Switzerland

Contra Costa Transportation Authority and May Mobility launch autonomous vehicle service in Martinez, California

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Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and May Mobility, an autonomous driving technology company, have launched Presto, a shared autonomous vehicle service for the general public in Martinez, California and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (County Hospital) patients.

A goal of the service is to improve access to healthcare in the area by providing another reliable and convenient mode of transportation.

The free service will run Monday through Friday, first offering County Hospital patients rides from 2pm to 6pm and then opening to the general public from 6pm to 10pm. [Read more…] about Contra Costa Transportation Authority and May Mobility launch autonomous vehicle service in Martinez, California

Holon to establish autonomous shuttle manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida

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Holon, a manufacturer of autonomous, electric shuttles purpose-built to revolutionize shared mobility and sustainable transportation, says it is “poised to transform the future of transportation” with the launch of its first production plant for autonomous movers in Jacksonville, Florida.

This city unveiling was announced recently in collaboration with prominent Florida officials and key community stakeholders. Holon, a subsidiary of global automotive supplier Benteler Group, will be Florida’s first automotive vehicle manufacturer.

The approximately 500,000-square-foot facility will be constructed in Jacksonville, with completion expected in 2026. The developer for the project is VanTrust Real Estate. [Read more…] about Holon to establish autonomous shuttle manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida