Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

by

Cleveron, an Estonian-based technology company, partnered with LRK Driving School to conduct what they say are “the world’s first driving exams with an unmanned semi-autonomous car”.

The exams were carried out with Cleveron’s last-mile delivery vehicle Cleveron 701. All four Cleveron specialists passed the exam and received the world’s first tele-operated vehicle certificates.

To receive the certificate, drivers first had to undergo special tele-operated vehicle training, followed by field exercises and city driving, in accordance with the Estonian examination standards. [Read more…] about Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

Perrone Robotics confirms commitment to develop autonomous vehicle test facility at ACM

by

Perrone Robotics, a provider of fully automated vehicle technology and solutions, has “solidified its commitment” to develop an advanced automated vehicle test facility at the American Center for Mobility (ACM) in Ypsilanti, Michigan by signing a new lease.

ACM’s smart mobility test center will enable Perrone’s team to work on high-speed, long-term, and continuous testing of a wide range of transit vans, shuttles, cargo vehicles, and trucks integrated with Perrone’s patented autonomous vehicle TONY Retrofit solution.

Perrone’s signed commitment with ACM comes just a few short months after the company received a $10 million investment from CapStone Holdings. The funding will support Perrone as it continues to advance its leadership role in the mobility industry. [Read more…] about Perrone Robotics confirms commitment to develop autonomous vehicle test facility at ACM

Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

by

A startup company called Ghost has raised $100 million Series D financing, fueling the development of its autonomous driving system that features what it describes as “a revolutionary breakthrough in crash prevention”.

Returning investors Sutter Hill Ventures and Founders Fund participated in the round, along with a new commitment from Coatue.

Ghost was founded in 2017 with the belief that driving should not be dangerous. Despite all the technology and features included in modern cars, cars still crash – accidents and fatalities are going up, not down. [Read more…] about Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors partners with REE Automotive to develop autonomous mobility solutions

by

Hino Motors, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, and REE Automotive, an innovator in e-mobility, have signed a strategic business alliance agreement to realize their shared vision of “providing new value to society through next-generation commercial mobility”.

With the backdrop of advancements in CASE – Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric – vehicles, the automotive industry is entering a major transformation phase.

Hino and REE envision beyond this transformation a future in which commercial vehicles that support the movement of people and goods will evolve into mobility that provides new value and opportunities for society. [Read more…] about Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors partners with REE Automotive to develop autonomous mobility solutions

Estonian company Auve Tech launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous hydrogen vehicle

by

What has been described as “the world’s first autonomous hydrogen vehicle” has now been officially launched.

Created by the Estonian enterprise Auve Tech in cooperation with University of Tartu researchers, the vehicle was presented to the public for the first time in Tartu, a city in eastern Estonia. The first passenger on the hydrogen vehicle was the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid.

The hydrogen shuttle, which at the beginning of June successfully drove its first test kilometers and was authorised by the Estonian Road Administration for public traffic, was completed thanks to the collaboration that started in February 2020. [Read more…] about Estonian company Auve Tech launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous hydrogen vehicle

AutoX launches new version of its fully driverless system production for ‘RoboTaxis’

by

AutoX has launched the production of its latest “Gen5 system for fully driverless RoboTaxis”.

The AutoX Gen5 was launched at the Crowne Plaza Shanghai Anting recently when AutoX founder and CEO, Dr Jianxiong Xiao, unveiled the technology behind the Gen5 system.

The Gen5 system has 50 sensors in total, as well as a vehicle control unit of 2,200 TOPS computing power. [Read more…] about AutoX launches new version of its fully driverless system production for ‘RoboTaxis’

Robotic Research and FPInnovations partner to develop resource road truck platooning technology

by

Joint efforts will provide Level 4 Autonomy for natural resource sector roads

Robotic Research, a developer of “automated driving systems” (or ADS, meaning autonomous), and FPInnovations, a Canadian private non-profit research and development center, are collaborating to develop an off-road truck platooning system for the forest industry.

This project will combine Robotic Research’s proven expertise as a global leader in self-driving technology with FPInnovations’ knowledge in forestry and transportation to adapt the truck platooning technology to off-highway environments.

The multi-year project aims at accelerating the adoption of off-road automated-vehicle technology to improve safety and address an acute labor shortage, thereby improving the quality and viability of rural jobs where natural resources are located. [Read more…] about Robotic Research and FPInnovations partner to develop resource road truck platooning technology

Major tech and automotive industry players establish cross-industry partnership for automated driving

by

Arm, Audi, Denso, NXP and six further technology and research leaders are joining industry group The Autonomous to develop state-of-the-art technology for autonomous vehicles.

The aim is to lay the basis for safety standardization and series production.

This form of collaboration will help to overcome major hurdles of prevailing competition in the industry and solve safety challenges. [Read more…] about Major tech and automotive industry players establish cross-industry partnership for automated driving

KVH Industries: Providing the Expertise and Precision that Autonomous Platforms Need for Accurate, Safe Navigation

by

The expansion and acceptance of vehicle autonomy will look a bit different from what futurists had predicted as recently as ten years ago.

People movers such as shuttles and buses are on track to become the first practical and widely accepted application of autonomous vehicles.

Getting to this point has been a long journey following decades of research and development into making autonomous technology safe and successful. [Read more…] about KVH Industries: Providing the Expertise and Precision that Autonomous Platforms Need for Accurate, Safe Navigation

Bridgestone invests in autonomous truck developer Kodiak Robotics

by

Bridgestone Americas has made a minority investment in Kodiak Robotics, a US-based self-driving trucking company.

The partnership will allow Bridgestone to integrate its smart-sensing tire technologies and fleet solutions into Kodiak’s level 4 autonomous trucks.

The companies will also pilot future autonomous and smart tire technologies to further enhance vehicle intelligence and advance toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable mobility future. [Read more…] about Bridgestone invests in autonomous truck developer Kodiak Robotics