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Gideon Brothers raises $765,000 to further develop its warehouse robot

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A Croatian company called Gideon Brothers has raised $765,000 to further develop its warehouse robot, according to a story on TechCrunch.com.

The company’s technologies are said to be already in use at some of the largest and most well-known companies in the world.

Tesco, Henkel, Target, Walmart, DHL, DB Schenker, Kuehne & Nagel, and FedEx are among the names Gideon Brothers mentions on its website as customers.

The new money will be used to further develop Gideon Brothers’ autonomous mobile platform, as seen in the main picture, which is from the company’s video (see below).  [Read more…] about Gideon Brothers raises $765,000 to further develop its warehouse robot

Automakers’ own predictions on when driverless cars will arrive

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New study by BDO shows when driverless cars will arrive – but does that matter?

Car companies, ride-hailing services and car industry technology suppliers each have their own prediction for when driverless cars will be ready to take to highways and city streets.

Audit and accounting company BDO carried out an analysis of the predictions and found that driverless cars will arrive: in early 2021.

There are some differences though. Averaging out the predictions, car companies think that driverless technology will be ready around 2 am on June 11th, 2021.

Ride-hailing services and technology suppliers are a bit more optimistic. They predict that driverless car technology will be ready by midnight, March 14th, 2020.  [Read more…] about Automakers’ own predictions on when driverless cars will arrive

Flying cars: A ‘near-term’ vision of a world where people get around in electric and autonomous cars and drones

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Airbus and the German car manufacturer Audi have teamed up to develop what they describe as “real, near-term urban mobility solutions”, which features electric and autonomous cars and drones – sometimes operating together as flying cars (main picture and video below).

Beginning this summer, Airbus – through its on-demand helicopter platform Voom – will partner with Audi to deliver an end-to-end transportation service, starting in São Paulo and Mexico City.

This partnership will provide premium ground transportation serviced by Audi vehicles and helicopter transport via Airbus’ Voom service, allowing customers to have a seamless and ultra-convenient travel experience.  [Read more…] about Flying cars: A ‘near-term’ vision of a world where people get around in electric and autonomous cars and drones

Cars of the future will be ‘self-driving and electric’

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NetworkNewsWire commentary

Self-driving and electric cars are poised to combine production efforts as both technologies mature.

Investment in self-driving vehicles is growing, leading to the emergence of specialist companies.

Electric cars are also on the rise, supported by the infrastructure of apps and charging points.  [Read more…] about Cars of the future will be ‘self-driving and electric’

J.D. Power and Harman partner on data for connected driving

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J.D. Power and Harman have announced an alliance that aims to significantly influence the automotive industry’s use of vehicle data to enrich customer experience, solve problems more effectively and help identify what consumers want from their increasingly automated vehicles.

Integrating customer insights with connected car data to provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with more accurate feedback from owners is the shared goal of J.D. Power, a consumer insights firm, and Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

With the rapid emergence of new technology in the automotive industry, understanding driver behaviour and preferences within the vehicle is crucial for automakers.

[Read more…] about J.D. Power and Harman partner on data for connected driving

Rio Tinto makes first delivery of iron ore with ‘world’s largest robot’

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Mining giant Rio Tinto has achieved the first delivery of iron ore with what it describes as “the world’s largest robot”.

The company’s $940 million AutoHaul programme is focused on automating trains transporting iron ore to Rio Tinto’s port facilities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Once commissioned, the network will be the world’s first heavy haul, long distance autonomous rail operation.  [Read more…] about Rio Tinto makes first delivery of iron ore with ‘world’s largest robot’

Autonomous truck startup raises $30 million

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Autonomous truck startup Embark has raised $30 million in new funding, bring the total to $47 million, according to a report on the Forbes website. 

The company recently completed a US coast-to-coast test run of its driverless truck. Towards the end of last year, the company also partnered with Frigidaire, and Ryder, on a pilot test.

The market for autonomous trucks is believed to be potentially huge, and many companies are developing the technology (see our feature). [Read more…] about Autonomous truck startup raises $30 million

Maxim launches new power-management integrated circuit boards for advanced driver assistance systems

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Maxim Integrated has launched a new range of power-management integrated circuit boards for advanced driver assistance systems.

The company says the new power-management ICs offer high performance, small size, efficiency, and protection needed by advanced automotive subsystems.

With a series of PMICs from, Maxim says designers can optimize power for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems functions to achieve high performance, small size, efficiency, and electrical protection.  [Read more…] about Maxim launches new power-management integrated circuit boards for advanced driver assistance systems

Nidec-Shimpo launches new versions of its S-Cart automated guided vehicle

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Nidec-Shimpo has launched new versions of its automated guided vehicle, the S-Cart. (See video below.)

The company says it will begin shipping the new model of AGV – equipped with a “Follow-Me” function – as soon as possible.

Additionally, the company has also developed a separate new model equipped with a “Return-To-Home” function as well as a model designed to carry a maximum payload of 500 kg.  [Read more…] about Nidec-Shimpo launches new versions of its S-Cart automated guided vehicle

BMW Group and Baidu join forces on autonomous driving in China

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Baidu, Inc. and the BMW Group today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which the BMW Group will join Apollo, the open autonomous driving platform by Baidu, as a board member.

The partnership was made official during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Germany on July 10th to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The MoU marks the beginning of a new partnership on autonomous driving between the BMW Group and Baidu. The two companies seek to work together to bring safe, convenient and intelligent mobility experiences for consumers in China.

[Read more…] about BMW Group and Baidu join forces on autonomous driving in China