Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Transportation

Sailbuoy becomes the ‘first’ autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic

by

A small autonomous vessel launched by a Norwegian company called Offshore Sensing has crossed the Atlantic, sailing from Newfoundland in Canada to north Ireland.

It is claimed that this is the first Atlantic crossing made by an autonomous vessel.

Offshore Sensing says the vessel, called Sailbuoy Met, was designed and “field proven” to stay at sea for months.

It navigates the oceans autonomously – transmitting back data at regular intervals.  [Read more…] about Sailbuoy becomes the ‘first’ autonomous vessel to cross the Atlantic

Aisin and Denso agree joint venture on electrification driving modules

by

Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd and Denso Corporation today announced that they have reached a basic agreement to establish a new joint venture company to develop and sell electrification driving modules. The company will be capitalised with the participation ratio of Aisin 50% and Denso 50%.

The automotive industry is in an era of profound transformation, particularly in technologies for electrification, automated driving and connected driving. Electrification is one of the key disrupters impacting the automotive industry.

Details are still being discussed and the plan is for the new company to launch in March 2019.

[Read more…] about Aisin and Denso agree joint venture on electrification driving modules

Alstom’s Taubaté site in Brazil resumes industrial activities

by

Alstom is opening a new production line at its Taubaté site in Brazil to manufacture stainless steel carshells for the Santiago Metro, in Chile.

The company is resuming industrial activities at the site and hiring new employees, after halting activities following production of 32 Citadis tramways for Rio de Janeiro. The new project, named NS16, will deliver 35 new trains to the Santiago Metro.

The carshells, after being manufactured in Brazil, will be shipped to Alstom’s unit in Chile for final assembly before delivery to the customer.

[Read more…] about Alstom’s Taubaté site in Brazil resumes industrial activities

Drive.ai to test autonomous car in Texas

by

Drive.ai’s coming expansion of its self-driving car pilot to Arlington, Texas, isn’t its first driverless foray, but the testing, taking place between Dallas and Fort Worth, will validate its vehicles’ ability to handle a crowded entertainment district and process all the data that comes with it.

After launching its maiden pilot in nearby Frisco in July, Drive.ai said it would extend its ride-hailing trial to the south, with three autonomous vans offering free rides to Arlington residents and visitors for one year, starting 19 October.

The vans, which use Nvidia’s compute technology, will operate within a geo-fenced area, travelling up to 35 miles per hour with human supervisors on board for the initial phase.

[Read more…] about Drive.ai to test autonomous car in Texas

SAIC Motor builds Chinese auto industry’s first AI lab

by

The SAIC Motor Artificial Intelligent Laboratory, the first one of its kind in China’s auto industry, has been opened in Shanghai.

Based on SAIC Motor’s cloud computing and big data platforms, the newly established lab is expected to develop AI applications and offer advanced AI solutions to promote the deep integration of internet technology and the auto industry, and improve the Group’s innovation capacity and core competitiveness.

The SAIC Motor AI Lab, as an important part of the Group’s core competitiveness, will make full use of the Group’s various application scenarios to focus on intelligent travel, intelligent manufacturing and intelligent driving with the aim of offering technological support to its new targets: electrification, intelligent networking, sharing and internationalisation.

[Read more…] about SAIC Motor builds Chinese auto industry’s first AI lab

ZF launches ‘smooth driving system’ for automated cars

by

ZF’s new fully active chassis system, sMotion, can reduce unwanted car body movements caused by potholes, bumps or bends, claims the company.

An intelligent actuator actively controls individual wheels, capable of adapting suspension movement for each travelling situation and road condition.

sMotion also offers vehicle manufacturers modular scalability as well as component dimensions and interfaces, making it easy to tailor and integrate the system into vehicle designs.

[Read more…] about ZF launches ‘smooth driving system’ for automated cars

Denso in joint venture for automated driving software

by

Denso Corporation is forming a new joint venture company to  to develop integrated electronic control unit (ECU) software for automated driving and vehicle dynamics control.

Denso will own 65% of the company with Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd taking a 25% stake, ADVICS Co., Ltd. taking 5% and  JTEKT Corporation taking 5%.

Details are still being discussed and the plan is for the new company to launch in March 2019.

[Read more…] about Denso in joint venture for automated driving software

UPS to test new electric vehicle

by

UPS is collaborating with Thor Trucks, Inc. to develop and test a fully-electric class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles, Calif. The truck is expected to be ready for deployment later this year.

UPS continues to work with a range of companies to test and deploy promising alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

The Thor electric delivery truck will have a driving range of approximately 100 miles powered by a Thor-designed and built battery that will be lightweight, durable and allow long-range driving distances.

[Read more…] about UPS to test new electric vehicle

Vector strengthens position in automotive software market with ArcCore acquisition

by

Vector, the Stuttgart-based embedded software specialist for automotive embedded electronics, has acquired the Swedish embedded software specialist ArcCore.

The acquisition strengthens Vector’s portfolio of products and services in the field of AutoSar, the global automotive software standard for intelligent vehicles.

ArcCore was founded in 2006 and currently employs 80 people worldwide who work on developing and distributing products and services in the domain of embedded based solutions, primarily for the automotive market.  [Read more…] about Vector strengthens position in automotive software market with ArcCore acquisition

DHL Freight wins contract extension with the BMW Group

by

DHL Freight, provider of road freight services in Europe, has been awarded an extension of its contract with the BMW Group and will continue to manage the vehicle manufacturer’s overland transport in 17 countries covered by the companies’ previous contract.

As a result of the tender, DHL Freight also won an expansion of the collaboration, taking on supply chain management of the BMW Group in seven additional areas.

A new DHL Freight custom-made logistics solution was successfully put in place as part of the contract conclusion.

[Read more…] about DHL Freight wins contract extension with the BMW Group