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automotive

Automotive software company TTTech Auto raises $285 million investment from Aptiv and Audi

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TTTech Auto, an Austria-based automotive safety technology startup, has raised $285 million (€250 million) from Aptiv and Audi in its latest funding round.

Aptiv is investing $228 million (€200 million), while Audi is increasing its existing stake by $57 million (€50 million).

With this latest funding round and a valuation of more than $1 billion, TTTech Auto confirms its strong position amid a growing number of auto tech unicorns. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close within the next two months. [Read more…] about Automotive software company TTTech Auto raises $285 million investment from Aptiv and Audi

Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

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Comau has agreed a strategic alliance with Mullen Automotive, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, for the build-out of a vehicle body shop at Mullen’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center in Tunica, Mississippi, United States.

Comau and Mullen Automotive are joining forces to develop the state-of-the-art body shop for the new and upcoming Mullen “Five” EV Crossover.

Comau’s competency stems from over 45 years of field proven-experience and a strong presence within every major industrial country. [Read more…] about Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

Fanuc launches new 1,000 kg payload industrial robotic arm

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Fanuc America, the world’s largest maker of industrial robots, has introduced the new M-1000iA robot capable of handling very heavy products including automotive components, construction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles.

The M-1000iA’s serial-link construction gives the robot a wider range of motion in every direction. It can extend its arm upright or rotate it backwards, which is not possible for typical heavy-payload robots with a parallel-link mechanism.

With a 1,000 kg payload, a 3,253 mm horizontal reach, and a 4,297 mm vertical reach the M-1000iA is ready to go to work for manufacturers looking to increase output and maximize their production line’s efficiency. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new 1,000 kg payload industrial robotic arm

Three opportunities to implement new fleet management innovations

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Like the automotive retail market, giant strides are being made in the fleet management industry.

Electrification has been introduced for long haul trucks and integration has radically altered what maintenance and refueling looks like.

5G technology has supplanted slower satellite and 3G data transmission for more accurate tracking, routing, and vehicle diagnostics. Dash cams have improved driver safety by preventing instances of distracted driving. [Read more…] about Three opportunities to implement new fleet management innovations

Aptiv to buy Wind River for $4.3 billion

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Aptiv, a technology company developing mobility software and systems, is to acquire Wind River from TPG Capital, the private equity platform of global alternative asset management firm TPG, for $4.3 billion in cash.

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. Used on over two billion edge devices across more than 1,700 customers globally, Wind River’s software enables the secure development, deployment, operations and servicing of mission-critical intelligent systems.

This edge-to-cloud software portfolio spans the aerospace and defense, telecommunications, industrial and automotive markets and is anchored by Wind River Studio, a highly versatile, comprehensive cloud-native intelligent systems software platform that enables full product lifecycle management for edge-to-cloud use cases. [Read more…] about Aptiv to buy Wind River for $4.3 billion

A history of advanced driver assistance systems

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In its report, Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022–2042, IDTechEx predicts that SAE Level 3 autonomous features, such as traffic jam pilot, will emerge in 2022 and become common in vehicles by 2042.

How did IDTechEx predict this time scale? The answer lies in the historical adoption trends of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies.

Everyone is familiar with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control; you would not have even thought to ask about them when purchasing your last car. [Read more…] about A history of advanced driver assistance systems

ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

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Industrial automation company ABB and China’s leading automotive parts supplier, HASCO, have agreed to create a joint venture to drive the next generation of smart manufacturing in China’s automotive industry.

The joint venture will build on the existing successful relationship between the two companies, leading to the crucial development of highly flexible and sustainable auto parts manufacturing within HASCO’s China-based operations.

As the automotive industry’s transition towards electric vehicles gathers pace, parts manufacturers must increasingly invest in flexible facilities that can respond to rapidly changing demands and trends. [Read more…] about ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

Apex.AI raises $56.5 million in Series B fundraising round

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Apex.AI, a company developing breakthrough safety-certified software for mobility and autonomous applications, has raised $56.5 million in a Series B fundraising round, bringing the total raised to date to $74 million.

The Series B round was led by Orillion, and included new participation from ZF, Continental, AGCO, Canaan, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Airbus Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s InMotion Ventures and others.

Other investments previously announced include Volvo Group Venture Capital, Toyota Ventures and HELLA Ventures, which further form Apex.AI’s world-class group of investors. [Read more…] about Apex.AI raises $56.5 million in Series B fundraising round

NXP and Foxconn agree strategic partnership to accelerate automotive innovation

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NXP, a semiconductor company with a strong presence in the automotive market, has agreed a strategic partnership with Foxconn Industrial Internet, a subsidy company of the Foxconn group, to “transform the car into the ultimate edge device”.

NXP will provide FII with its comprehensive portfolio of automotive technologies.

The initial phase of the joint project will focus on the development of a full digital cockpit solution, based on the NXP i.MX 8 QuadMax. [Read more…] about NXP and Foxconn agree strategic partnership to accelerate automotive innovation

TTTech Auto and Infineon design new chip architecture for highly automated driving

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TTTech Auto and Infineon Technologies have developed key components for a fail-operational electronic architecture for highly automated driving of SAE Level 3 and 4.

This enables the safe and reliable processing of, for example, radar or LiDAR camera sensor data and is targeting car and technology manufacturers. The fail-operational architectural concept and its key components ensure the safe operation of highway pilot functions, valet parking and autonomous truck driving in case individual functions fail.

The joint research contributed to the successful completion of the European PRYSTINE (Programmable Systems for Intelligence in Automobiles) project. With a budget of about €50 million, PRYSTINE aimed to realize safe automated driving by fail-operational urban surround perception. [Read more…] about TTTech Auto and Infineon design new chip architecture for highly automated driving