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Transportation

Groupe PSA and EasyMile test autonomous tow tractor

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Groupe PSA is trialling a TractEasy autonomous industrial tow tractor to automate part of its Sochaux plant.

TractEasy is a driverless tow tractor with a maximum towing capacity of 25 tonnes and the ability to drive among other vehicles at speeds of up to 25 km/h.

In Sochaux, the TractEasy drives up to 15km/h – the current speed limit at the facility – on a 3 km circuit and makes round trips between the supplier industrial park and the assembly shop.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA and EasyMile test autonomous tow tractor

Hyundai invests in WayRay to develop holographic navigation

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Hyundai Motor Company is investing in Swiss deep-tech startup WayRay AG to speed the development of a holographic augmented reality (AR) navigation system for future vehicles, aiming to introduce it in vehicles as early as 2020.

WayRay’s holographic AR solutions create a true augmented reality experience where virtual objects are seamlessly integrated into a vehicle’s interior environment.

Compared with conventional head-up displays (HUD) available in the market, WayRay’s technology has a smaller projection system that provides a clearer image, which can be installed in almost any vehicle, says the company.

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ZF developing autonomous ‘last-mile’ delivery

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The logistics industry is overtaking the passenger car sector when it comes to the automation of driving functions. ZF is supporting this trend with innovative concepts and major investments.

For example, there are commercial vehicles that are intelligently connected thanks to production-ready ZF technology and equipped with autonomous driving functions capable of independently performing all logistics tasks or assisting package delivery drivers.

Autonomous delivery trucks will make package deliveries along the “last mile” more efficient – which will in the future help to deal with rising delivery volumes while reducing traffic in city centres.

[Read more…] about ZF developing autonomous ‘last-mile’ delivery

Groupe PSA vehicles to have voice recognition smart assistants

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Groupe PSA has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Silicon Valley start-up SoundHound Inc., the leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language voice recognition technology.

The unique Deep Meaning Understanding technology developed by SoundHound Inc. is the only solution that, like a human being, can instantly answer multiple questions in a single sentence.

SoundHound is developing voice and AI integration algorithms to tailor the world’s fastest speech recognition technology and seamless natural language understanding capability to Groupe PSA’s vehicles.

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ATS to acquire KMW to strengthen its position in the electric vehicle market

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ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire KMW Konstruktion, Maschinen- & Werkzeugbau GmbH & Co. KG and KMW GmbH, a German-based supplier of custom micro-assembly systems and test equipment solutions.

The addition of KMW’s micro-assembly technology and expertise are expected to strengthen ATS’ current offerings in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Micro-assembly systems are critical elements in the assembly of various components used in electric vehicles, including motors, power storage systems, braking, steering, and electronic modules.

[Read more…] about ATS to acquire KMW to strengthen its position in the electric vehicle market

Volkswagen expands production in China

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With the opening of three new FAW-Volkswagen vehicle plants at three locations – in Qingdao, Foshan and Tianjin – as well as the Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch component plant, the Volkswagen Group is strengthening its localisation strategy in China.

The second recently-opened vehicle production plant in Foshan is a mega plant in south China. In addition, vehicle and component plants in Tianjin, northern China, were bundled at a single location.

Together with the existing gearbox plant, further synergies will be used there to increase production efficiency. All four new factories significantly increase the flexibility of Volkswagen Group China to react more quickly to customer needs.

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Digital side-view monitor to replace mirror on new Lexus car

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Lexus, from Toyota, has announced the introduction of the world’s first digital side-view monitors on the new ES. By installing small exterior cameras on the front doors, Lexus vehicles will provide its drivers with a clearer view of the vehicle’s surrounding area.

The cameras in the digital side-view monitors transmit the images onto 5-inch display monitors located inside the cabin at the base of the front pillars.

Another advantage the monitors have over their conventional counterparts is that they are shaped to resist the accumulation of raindrops and snow, leaving the driver’s view unaffected.

[Read more…] about Digital side-view monitor to replace mirror on new Lexus car

Volvo unveils its latest innovations for future autonomous and electric transport

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The Volvo Group continues its drive to develop next-generation transport solutions. The latest examples include a system in which autonomous electric vehicles are coordinated to ensure as efficient, and safe goods transport as possible, as well as a new electric compact wheel loader concept.

On September 12, the new goods transport solution was unveiled for the first time in connection with the Volvo Group’s Innovation Summit in Berlin. It consists of autonomous electric vehicles that are wirelessly connected to a transport control centre.

The control centre monitors parameters such as each vehicle’s location, load and battery charge, using this data to ensure that the overall fleet logistics as well as goods and vehicle flow are as efficient as possible.

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Honeywell and VSI Labs building autonomous cars on IMUs

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How a tiny powerhouse part – the inertial measurement unit – went from airplanes to self-driving cars.

Aerospace technology has come down to earth. The same navigation technology that guides airplanes, drones and spacecraft is now being applied to self-driving cars.

Minnesota-based VSI Labs has been working to improve the performance of autonomous vehicles since 2014. Recently VSI turned to us for a critical navigation component called the inertial measurement unit, or IMU.

Honeywell says it pioneered the development of IMUs back in the mid-1990s, and it changed the face of aerospace navigation. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Honeywell and VSI Labs building autonomous cars on IMUs

BMW building ‘world’s most advanced’ driving simulation facility in Munich

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German auto giant BMW says it is building “the world’s most advanced” driving simulation centre in Munich.

The company says the facility is “the most advanced of its kind” and provides “unique possibilities for development of autonomous driving systems”.

The construction of the centre begins as part of BMW’s so-called “FIZ Future” masterplan, and completion is scheduled for 2020.  [Read more…] about BMW building ‘world’s most advanced’ driving simulation facility in Munich