Robotics & Automation News

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Autonomous Vehicles

Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) returns to CES 2023 to push the boundaries of head-to-head autonomous racing and showcase the future of autonomous mobility.

The IAC will have a significant presence throughout CES 2023 with the Autonomous Challenge @ CES at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 7; an exhibit in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in the LVCC West Hall booth #3601; a tabletop at CES Unveiled on January 3 and a press conference at CES Media Days on January 4. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES

Arcimoto, Faction, and GoCar Tours partner on development of driverless electric vehicles for tourism rentals

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Arcimoto, a maker of electric vehicles, has formed a partnership with Faction Technology and GoCar Tours to develop up to 310 driverless electric vehicles, powered by Faction’s DriveLink and TeleAssist technologies and GoCar’s patented GoCar Network technology, which allows users to explore select cities on their own schedule at their own pace.

The partnership calls for an initial 20-vehicle pilot program to begin at GoCar Tours Las Vegas in 2023.

Upon successful completion of the pilot, GoCar will begin a phased deployment of an additional 290 vehicles to GoCar locations in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and San Diego, California, and later in Barcelona, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal. [Read more…] about Arcimoto, Faction, and GoCar Tours partner on development of driverless electric vehicles for tourism rentals

Embark provides first autonomous truck to Knight-Swift

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, and Knight-Swift Transportation, one of North America’s largest and most diversified freight transportation companies, have agreed a technology test partnership.

As part of the agreement, Embark has initiated handover of the first Embark-powered truck as part of the Truck Transfer Program.

TTP marks the first public initiative where a carrier will directly own and operate a truck with select features of Embark’s automated driving software, allowing Embark to gain valuable insight from having its system components operating in a carrier customer’s duty cycle. [Read more…] about Embark provides first autonomous truck to Knight-Swift

Motional mobility study shows ‘consumer trust in autonomous vehicles is growing’

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Autonomous mobility developer Motional has released new findings from its third annual Consumer Mobility Study, which looks at shifting consumer perceptions toward autonomous vehicles (AVs), as well as preferred AV use cases across generational and gender demographics.

The study found that only one-third (33 percent) of Americans feel uncomfortable with the level of safety, security, and accuracy of AV technology – a shift from 2021 when consumers reported safety (67 percent) as the number one concern related to driverless technology.

Leading the charge in the increasing acceptance of AVs are younger consumers, with a majority of Gen Z survey respondents (67 percent) believing that AVs are safer than human drivers. [Read more…] about Motional mobility study shows ‘consumer trust in autonomous vehicles is growing’

SafeAI raises $38 million funding to develop autonomous heavy equipment

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SafeAI, a developer of autonomous solutions for heavy equipment, has raised $38 million in its Series B round of funding with key investors including Builders VC, McKinley Management, George Kaiser Family Foundation, and Energy Innovation Capital.

Additionally, Moog Inc joined the round as a strategic investor. SafeAI retrofits construction and mining vehicles with aftermarket hardware and proprietary autonomy software that delivers significant gains in increased worksite productivity, safety and cost savings.

The company will use the funding to accelerate their autonomous vehicle technology roadmap, and to scale operations globally to service and deploy their growing customer base. [Read more…] about SafeAI raises $38 million funding to develop autonomous heavy equipment

US Army awards Kodiak Robotics $50 million contract for autonomous trucks

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, today announced it has been awarded a $49.9 million, 24-month United States Department of Defense (DoD) agreement to help automate future US Army ground vehicles led by the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program.

This effort will be in support of vehicles designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other high-risk missions.

Through this award, which started in October 2022 and was awarded by DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on behalf of the Army’s RCV program office, Kodiak will leverage its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for driverless vehicles that further strengthen national security. [Read more…] about US Army awards Kodiak Robotics $50 million contract for autonomous trucks

Motional launches first robotaxi service on the Uber network

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Motional’s new all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxis will be available on UberX and Uber Comfort Electric in select markets, contributing to Uber’s 2030 zero emissions goal.

Motional and Uber today announced the launch of their public robotaxi service in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the first time ever, Uber customers are able to hail an autonomous ride using Motional’s all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5-based robotaxis.

Motional and Uber are launching with vehicle operators now to lay the groundwork for a fully driverless commercial service, with the goal of launching the driverless service to the public in 2023. [Read more…] about Motional launches first robotaxi service on the Uber network

Autonomous truck startup Einride raises $500 million in new funding

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Autonomous electric truck startup Einride has secured $500 million in financing, including both a Series C equity raise and a debt facility.

The debt financing, which is the largest asset-backed facility to date for heavy-duty electric vehicles, will provide transformative funding for Einride’s fleet of electric vehicles across the world.

The Series C provides a next step in the funding of new developments and deployments across Einride’s autonomous and digital offerings, as well as expanding Einride’s offerings to new markets and clients. [Read more…] about Autonomous truck startup Einride raises $500 million in new funding

Mercedes-Benz and Bosch launch ‘world’s first’ driverless parking system approved for commercial use

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Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have reached an important milestone on the way to automated driving: Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority has approved their highly automated parking system for use in the P6 parking garage run by Apcoa at Stuttgart Airport.

This makes it the world’s first highly automated driverless parking function (SAE Level 4) to be officially approved for commercial use. The technological advancement of automated driving plays a key role in the mobility of the future.

With the vehicle and infrastructure taking over driving and manoeuvring, drivers will be able to turn their attention to other things, instead of time spent looking for a parking space and manoeuvring in tight parking garages. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz and Bosch launch ‘world’s first’ driverless parking system approved for commercial use

Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries

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Collect&Go, Colruyt Group’s online shopping service, is currently testing the state-of-the-art technology: an autonomous vehicle built by the Estonian technology company Clevon that combines remote teleoperation with advanced autopilot functionality.

The aim is to find out what such a vehicle can mean for Collect&Go in a rapidly changing e-commerce context. Remotely controlled, the self-driving vehicle will take to public roads for the first time today.

In doing so, it will cover a 4-kilometre route, from the distribution centre to Collect&Go’s pick-up point in Londerzeel. This is the longest route ever covered in Belgium by an unmanned vehicle. [Read more…] about Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries