Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous systems in mining and agriculture vehicles

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Heavy-duty autonomy in controlled, off-road environments delivers efficiency and safety gains

Autonomous vehicles are still most commonly associated with passenger cars and urban roads. Yet the most mature, commercially proven forms of vehicle autonomy have emerged far from city streets.

They operate in open-pit mines, on remote haul roads, and across agricultural fields – environments where routes are known, traffic is controlled, and the economics of automation are clear.

Mining and agriculture have quietly become the longest-running success stories in vehicle autonomy. These sectors demonstrate what autonomy looks like when expectations are pragmatic, deployment is incremental, and safety and productivity are the primary objectives. [Read more…] about Autonomous systems in mining and agriculture vehicles

Autonomous trucking: The race to revolutionize freight transport

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Progress, constraints, and the companies shaping long-haul autonomy

Autonomous vehicles are still widely framed through the lens of passenger cars and robotaxis. Yet the strongest commercial momentum in vehicle autonomy is emerging far from city streets and consumer ride-hailing apps.

It is taking shape on highways, distribution corridors, and freight routes where economics, not novelty, determine success.

Long-haul trucking has become the most credible proving ground for autonomous driving. The sector combines chronic labour shortages, rising logistics costs, predictable operating patterns, and a clear productivity incentive. [Read more…] about Autonomous trucking: The race to revolutionize freight transport

PlusAI targets 2027 launch for factory-built autonomous trucks as readiness metrics advance

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PlusAI says it is on track to launch factory-built commercial autonomous trucks in 2027, as the company reported progress across a set of internal readiness metrics tied to safety validation and operational performance.

In an update issued January 8, PlusAI said its Safety Case Readiness (SCR) reached 90.1 percent through the second half of 2025, while Autonomous Miles Percentage (AMP) rose to 99.2 percent and Remote Assistance Free Trips (RAFT) increased to 79.0 percent. The company said these figures represent steady improvement compared with metrics disclosed in mid-2025.

“This progress comes as PlusAI works towards its targeted commercial launch in 2027,” the company said in a press release, adding that it is also planning to become publicly listed via a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX. [Read more…] about PlusAI targets 2027 launch for factory-built autonomous trucks as readiness metrics advance

Harman to acquire ZF’s ADAS business in deal valued at €1.5 billion

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Harman International, a provider of automotive technology and lifestyle audio, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the advanced driver assistance systems business of ZF Group, comprising automotive compute solutions, smart cameras, radars and ADAS software functions.

The transaction is valued at €1.5 billion. [Read more…] about Harman to acquire ZF’s ADAS business in deal valued at €1.5 billion

Luxembourg positions itself as European hub for autonomous trucking

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The tiny state of Luxembourg – population, fewer than 700,000 – is positioning itself as a potential European hub for autonomous freight transport, as governments on both sides of the Atlantic move to create clearer regulatory and policy frameworks for self-driving trucks.

The latest signal came during a recent visit by Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and trade, to the global headquarters of PlusAI in Santa Clara, California. Bettel was joined by Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s minister of the economy, SME, energy and tourism, in meetings with PlusAI’s executive team.

The visit reflects growing interest from Luxembourg’s government in autonomous trucking as a strategic enabler for the future of European logistics, rather than a symbolic picture opportunity. Autonomous freight transport is increasingly viewed as a way to address capacity constraints, efficiency pressures and sustainability goals across long-haul and cross-border supply chains. [Read more…] about Luxembourg positions itself as European hub for autonomous trucking

From Pilot to Production: Autonomous Trucking Explained

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Autonomous trucking is starting to look less like a science project and more like an operating model. The hard part is no longer only the driving system itself.

The real work is building everything around it: how freight is booked, how vehicles are supported in the field, how safety cases are proven, how regulations are implemented, and how uptime is protected when the unexpected happens.

In a recent industry interview, a major truck manufacturer’s autonomy division described its position as already operating commercially and focused on scaling through partnerships, production integration, and an ecosystem approach rather than treating autonomy as a side experiment. [Read more…] about From Pilot to Production: Autonomous Trucking Explained

Einride and IonQ partnership uses quantum computing to optimize the logistics of electric and autonomous freight

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Einride, a developer of electric and autonomous freight operations for some of the world’s largest shippers, has announced its initial results of a groundbreaking collaboration with the US-based quantum computing company IonQ to further enhance Einride’s AI-powered optimization platform, Saga. This marks the first real-world application using quantum computing to analyze commercial transport data.

Einride and IonQ entered into a three-year partnership in May 2025 to explore ways to further enhance the Company’s Saga platform through quantum technology.

Saga uses the comprehensive operational and customer data generated by Einride’s vertically integrated transport ecosystem of electric trucks, autonomous trucks, and charging infrastructure. This allows Einride to successfully serve customers’ transport demand with fewer vehicles, lower energy use, and reduced overall transport cost.

“Achieving fully electrified and automated freight networks in the most efficient way possible is an exponentially complex task,” said Roozbeh Charli, CEO at Einride. [Read more…] about Einride and IonQ partnership uses quantum computing to optimize the logistics of electric and autonomous freight

Civ Robotics’ AI-powered CivNav brings solar construction a step closer to autonomy

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Civ Robotics, a construction robotics company, has launched CivNav, a machine-control material distribution system. Powered by AI, CivNav speeds up solar construction by streamlining logistics, efficient pile and pallet placement, and advanced planning and workflow segmentation.

As demand for solar construction continues to surge, projects are often slowed by complex logistics, requiring constant deliveries that result in sites congested with dozens of trucks.

These inefficiencies are compounded by the construction industry’s current 500,000-worker labor shortage. CivNav’s technology arrives at this critical time, streamlining outdated processes to keep the transition to solar on track. [Read more…] about Civ Robotics’ AI-powered CivNav brings solar construction a step closer to autonomy

Mach secures $7 million seed funding and agrees partnerships to scale its off-road autonomy business

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Mach, a Tier 1 supplier of full-stack autonomy solutions for off-road equipment, has announced two concurrent milestones that signal a major acceleration in its commercial progress: the close of a $7 million funding round and key partnerships with leading original equipment manufacturers in agriculture, defense, and landcare.

The funding round was led by The Venture Collective (TVC), with participation from Next Level Ventures and Midwest Growth Partners. The capital will be used to scale production and support Mach’s growing ecosystem of more than 25 OEM partners, who are integrating Mach’s proven autonomy platform to deliver next-generation solutions to their customers.

Off-road industries face new challenges, including labor shortages and increased demands for safety and efficiency. Mach addresses these issues with a proven autonomy platform, boasting 500,000 driverless miles and 250,000 hours in the field. [Read more…] about Mach secures $7 million seed funding and agrees partnerships to scale its off-road autonomy business

Interview with Volvo autonomous trucks executive: ‘We are already in commercial deployment’

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Autonomous trucking is edging closer to commercial reality in the United States, but the companies leading the technology are finding that the real challenge is no longer just developing a safe self-driving system.

It is building the ecosystem around it: the infrastructure, service network, regulations, operational playbooks and commercial partnerships needed to scale autonomous freight in a predictable, reliable and economically viable way.

Few companies have gained as much real-world experience as Volvo Autonomous Solutions. While much of the industry is still testing prototypes or running closed pilots, Volvo is already hauling commercial freight between Dallas and Houston using the Volvo VNL Autonomous integrated with the Aurora Driver. (VNL is the name of Volvo Trucks’ long-haul, Class 8 tractor platform for the North American market.) [Read more…] about Interview with Volvo autonomous trucks executive: ‘We are already in commercial deployment’