Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Motional and Lyft to launch fully driverless rideshare service

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Motional, a driverless technology developer, and rideshare service provider Lyft have agreed joint plans to launch a multimarket robotaxi service in major US cities, beginning in 2023.

Motional says its next generation, fully driverless vehicles will be integrated, operationalized, and implemented on the Lyft network.

The two companies claim this agreement marks the largest robotaxi partnership for a major ridesharing network. It follows an ongoing and successful three-year partnership, in which Motional and Lyft operate the world’s longest-standing commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas. [Read more…] about Motional and Lyft to launch fully driverless rideshare service

What Barriers Still Impede Electric Vehicles?

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Electric vehicles have been with us for a long time.

It’s only recently that they’re being touted as a serious replacement for the internal combustion engine and a (partial) answer to our climate crisis.

The UK government says that it’ll ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 – and you can reasonably expect any Labour government to be at least as ambitious, given their slightly greener voter-base.

By then, electric cars will need to be fairly ubiquitous. So what’s stopping this from happening right now? [Read more…] about What Barriers Still Impede Electric Vehicles?

Volvo Penta launches autonomous boat docking system

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Volvo Penta has launched what it describes as “the industry’s first fully integrated Assisted Docking system” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Volvo says the Assisted Docking system gives the captain better control when docking a boat by automating his or her intentions, compensating for some dynamic variables, such as wind and current, and helping the vessel stay on its intended course.

The technology will be on display at Volvo Penta’s virtual booth at CES from 11-14 January 2021. [Read more…] about Volvo Penta launches autonomous boat docking system

Magna partners with Fisker to expand ADAS business

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Automotive parts and systems company Magna is collaborating with Fisker to develop an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which will be applied to the Fisker Ocean sports utility vehicle that is expected to launch in late 2022.

This new business win demonstrates Magna’s ability to bring scale and efficiency to the mobility landscape and represents an important expansion of the EV platform sharing, vehicle engineering and manufacturing cooperation the two companies announced last October.

Magna and Fisker will work together to develop industry-unique ADAS features and a suite of software packages powered by a scalable domain controller architecture. [Read more…] about Magna partners with Fisker to expand ADAS business

What You Need to Know About Self-Driving Cars

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The technological advancements of the 21st century would astound even the greatest thinkers just a century ago.

Today, we’ll discuss what you need to know about, as our title suggests, self-driving cars.

These vehicles have become a talking point for many over the last few years and are highly sought-after. At this time, there are no 100% autonomous cars on the road, although partially autonomous cars do exist. [Read more…] about What You Need to Know About Self-Driving Cars

Daimler and Infosys Announce Partnership to Drive Hybrid Cloud-powered Innovation & IT Infrastructure Transformation

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Daimler AG and Infosys have announced a long-term strategic partnership for a technology-driven IT infrastructure transformation. After the receipt of all regulatory approvals, Daimler AG will transform its IT operating model and infrastructure landscape across workplace services, service desk, data center, networks and SAP Basis together with Infosys. The partnership will enable the company to deepen its focus on software engineering and to establish a fully scalable on‑demand digital
IT infrastructure and anytime-anywhere workplace. The collaboration will empower Daimler to strengthen its
IT capabilities, and Infosys, its automotive expertise.
[Read more…] about Daimler and Infosys Announce Partnership to Drive Hybrid Cloud-powered Innovation & IT Infrastructure Transformation

Electric SUVs Launching in 2021

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SUVs were known for their pollution but now they’re at the forefront of car development. Electric SUVs are eco-friendly, powerful, and gorgeous.

An electric car is a technological wonder in its own right. The cars are getting better by the minute, and they’re able to go for longer without charging.

Huge progress is being made when it comes to power, size, technology, and design. Electric cars really are the future. [Read more…] about Electric SUVs Launching in 2021

Amazon’s Zoox unveils autonomous robotaxi

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Amazon-owned autonomous mobility company Zoox has unveiled its fully functional, electric, autonomous vehicle that is designed for dense, urban environments.

Zoox claims it is the first in the industry to showcase a driving, purpose-built robotaxi capable of operating up to 75 miles per hour.

Since its inception in 2014, Zoox has combined artificial intelligence, robotics, vehicle design, and sustainable energy to bring its vision of reinventing personal transportation to life, arguing that this will make the future “safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone”. [Read more…] about Amazon’s Zoox unveils autonomous robotaxi

Do EVs reduce or increase CO2 emissions?

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Electric vehicles (EVs) seem to be the answer to many of our environmental issues. These include greenhouse gases and poor-quality air.

Cars that run on electricity are supposed to reduce smog, slow global warming, and eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels. But are they really helping us accomplish these things?

The answer is complicated. [Read more…] about Do EVs reduce or increase CO2 emissions?

AutoX puts fully driverless RoboTaxis on the roads in China

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AutoX has rolled out fully driverless RoboTaxis on the roads of downtown Shenzhen, marking the first time a completely autonomous fleet without accompanying safety drivers or remote operators is introduced in China.

The leading autonomous driving technology company has been conducting driverless stress tests in the Tier 1 city – which has the highest population density in China – for the past half a year.

A video has also been released to share how the vehicles navigate around downtown Shenzhen. (See video below.) [Read more…] about AutoX puts fully driverless RoboTaxis on the roads in China