Robotics & Automation News

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Autonomous Vehicles

Inceptio delivers massive order of 400 autonomous trucks to ZTO

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Inceptio Technology, a developer of autonomous driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks, has completed delivery of 400 Inceptio-powered autonomous heavy-duty trucks to ZTO Express, a fast-growing express delivery company in China.

This milestone marks the largest single delivery of intelligent heavy-duty trucks globally, significantly enhancing the smart logistics industry.

The trucks, jointly developed with Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Company, are pre-loaded with Inceptio’s Autonomous Driving System, marking another critical step towards the mass commercialization of autonomous logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Inceptio delivers massive order of 400 autonomous trucks to ZTO

Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

Autonomous buses represent one of the most challenging platforms in the autonomous driving industry. In recent years, commercial interest has shifted towards roboshuttles and robotaxis, partly due to the complex operational design domains (ODD) of autonomous buses.

The typical ODD for a bus requires interactions with a broad range of road users, including more pedestrians, cyclists, bus stops, passengers, and surrounding vehicles.

The larger size of these buses, coupled with their intricate ODD, presents challenges similar to those faced by roboshuttles.

[Read more…] about Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

Future of Personal Injury Law: The Impact of Driverless Cars on Legal Proceedings

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The rise of driverless cars represents a transformative shift in the automotive industry, promising to redefine how we approach transportation. These autonomous vehicles, equipped with advanced technologies, have the potential to drastically reduce traffic accidents caused by human error.

However, their integration into everyday life also brings forth complex legal challenges, particularly in the realm of personal injury law. As driverless technology becomes more prevalent, its impact on legal proceedings will be profound, necessitating a reevaluation of existing legal frameworks and practices.

This blog explores the future of personal injury law in the context of driverless cars. By examining current practices, technological advancements, and emerging legal issues, we aim to shed light on how the legal landscape will evolve as autonomous vehicles become a fixture on our roads. [Read more…] about Future of Personal Injury Law: The Impact of Driverless Cars on Legal Proceedings

Kodiak surpasses 50,000 autonomous long-haul trucking miles in delivery collaboration with JB Hunt and Bridgestone

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J.B. Hunt, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, Bridgestone, the famous tire brand, and Kodiak Robotics, an autonomous trucking company, are celebrating a successful ongoing weekly delivery collaboration that has surpassed 50,000 autonomous long-haul trucking miles, incorporating Kodiak autonomous trucks to ship Bridgestone passenger car tires between South Carolina and Dallas.

Since launching in January, the autonomous route has been driven with no accidents and achieved 100 percent on-time pick-up and delivery, and the companies have expanded the collaboration to include additional weekly deliveries along the route.

Utilizing Kodiak’s hub-to-hub autonomous delivery model, the long-haul stretch of the route from Atlanta to Dallas – approximately 750 miles and 16 hours – is completed using Kodiak autonomous driving technology, which is fitted with Bridgestone M719 drive tires and R213 steer tires. [Read more…] about Kodiak surpasses 50,000 autonomous long-haul trucking miles in delivery collaboration with JB Hunt and Bridgestone

Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Beep to launch autonomous shuttle service

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Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) has launched its second Presto autonomous shuttle service, which increases transportation access for seniors with Beep, a provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions.

With this launch, residents of the active senior Rossmoor 55+ community can now take advantage of the free pilot shuttle program aimed at providing easy, stress- and emission-free transportation.

The shuttle will run on a pre-programmed loop Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5 pm with a trained attendant on board. [Read more…] about Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Beep to launch autonomous shuttle service

Vicinity Motor launches its first automated transit bus at Sleeping Bear national park

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Vicinity Motor, a North American supplier of commercial electric vehicles, has launched its first public deployment of a Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric Transit Bus in partnership with automated driving software platform provider ADASTEC at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, beginning service on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024.

As announced by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist at a launch event at the Michigan State Capitol Building yesterday, through a National Park Service Mobility Challenge Program grant, ADASTEC and Vicinity will deploy an automated, electric low-floor, accessible transit bus that will transport passengers along a 4.1-mile route on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The deployment – supported by federal funding – aims to study how the next generation of automated bus technology performs in an outdoor recreational setting. The vehicle will be available for public use and is free to riders with a 7-day, annual or lifetime NPS pass during its deployment period. [Read more…] about Vicinity Motor launches its first automated transit bus at Sleeping Bear national park

Atlas Energy to install Kodiak autonomous technology into high-capacity trucks

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Atlas Energy Solutions and Kodiak Robotics have entered into an agreement whereby Kodiak will outfit new Atlas high-capacity trucks with Kodiak’s autonomous driving technology.

The two companies have already completed their first driverless delivery of frac sand (a type of sand with small, uniform particles) in West Texas’s Permian Basin. The 21-mile delivery transported Atlas’s high-quality frac sand from an Atlas depot to a wellsite with no one inside the cab.

The companies also announced that Atlas has placed an order for Kodiak-equipped driverless trucks that will deliver frac sand across the Permian Basin’s existing infrastructure of private lease roads. [Read more…] about Atlas Energy to install Kodiak autonomous technology into high-capacity trucks

May Mobility passes milestone of 10,000 passengers with its autonomous vehicles

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May Mobility, a developer of autonomous driving technology, says that more than 10,000 riders have used its goMARTI autonomous vehicle service in Grand Rapids, Minnesota since its launch in September 2022.

Grand Rapids is a rural community known for extreme winter weather patterns and steep snow banks. This milestone demonstrates May Mobility’s ability to operate under challenging and diverse circumstances while becoming a trusted and vital resource for the community.

May Mobility, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), The PLUM Catalyst and the city of Grand Rapids partnered to deliver an accessible transportation option that augments existing transportation. [Read more…] about May Mobility passes milestone of 10,000 passengers with its autonomous vehicles

May Mobility and SouthWest Transit launch first autonomous transportation service in Minnesota

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May Mobility, a provider of autonomous driving technology, and SouthWest Transit, a transit agency serving SouthWest Twin Cities, are partnering to provide autonomous microtransit service in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

May Mobility’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) are scheduled to be integrated into SouthWest Transit’s transportation ecosystem in the fall of this year, providing the public with an additional on-demand option for reliable transportation.

Looking to enhance its existing microtransit service, SouthWest Prime, with an innovative transportation solution, SouthWest Transit has signed a three-year contract with May Mobility. [Read more…] about May Mobility and SouthWest Transit launch first autonomous transportation service in Minnesota

Waabi raises $200 million to launch fully driverless trucks in 2025

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Waabi, a company pioneering generative AI for autonomous trucks, has raised $200 million in an oversubscribed Series B round, led by Uber and Khosla Ventures. 

The funding round includes participation from best-in-class strategic investors Nvidia, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Porsche Automobil Holding, Scania Invest and Ingka Investments.

Additional financial investors include HarbourVest Partners, G2 Venture Partners, BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, Export Development Canada, Radical Ventures, Incharge Capital, and others. [Read more…] about Waabi raises $200 million to launch fully driverless trucks in 2025