Robotics & Automation News

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autonomous driving

How Kodiak uses AI and probabilistic risk assessment to measure autonomous trucking safety

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Rapid AI advances now enable engineers to develop autonomous driving technology faster than ever, but the true frontier of autonomous driving is the ability to couple those advances with demonstrable and rigorous safety.

Increasingly, depth and rigor is achieved not through the biggest budgets nor the largest fleets, but by distilling the most precise insights from real-world testing and simulation that assure autonomous systems can handle rare and unusual scenarios, the kind that may only occur once in a lifetime of driving.

Autonomous truck maker Kodiak has met this challenge by adopting two tools, including one we created with the help of AI, that accelerate the pace, depth and precision of our safety engineering. They go beyond traditional approaches and deliver clear, compelling evidence of the Kodiak Driver’s safety. [Read more…] about How Kodiak uses AI and probabilistic risk assessment to measure autonomous trucking safety

QCraft demonstrates urban NOA on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Ride chip, targets 2026 global mass production

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QCraft has demonstrated its urban Navigate-on-Autopilot (NOA) system running on Qualcomm’s SA8650P Snapdragon Ride platform in production vehicles, putting the autonomous driving company on track for global mass production this year.

The demonstration took place on June 5 at Qualcomm’s Automotive Technology and Cooperation Summit in Wuxi, China, where attendees took live test rides in SA8650P-equipped production cars navigating real urban traffic.

According to QCraft, the vehicles handled unprotected left turns, mixed pedestrian and vehicle traffic, tunnels, transitions between main roads and side streets, and congested maneuvering with smooth, human-like control. [Read more…] about QCraft demonstrates urban NOA on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Ride chip, targets 2026 global mass production

Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

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Stellantis and Qualcomm Technologies have announced an expansion of their multi-year technology collaboration to power next-generation Stellantis vehicles with Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-chips (SoCs).

The expanded collaboration integrates Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions with STLA Brain, Stellantis’ electronic and software platform, enhancing cockpit, connectivity and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) performance.

The scalable technology foundation aims to accelerate time to market, enable continuous feature upgrades and enhance the driving experience. Built to scale across brands and segments, Snapdragon Digital Chassis SoCs support Stellantis’ broader strategy to improve cost efficiency through platform standardization. [Read more…] about Stellantis expands Qualcomm partnership for AI-powered vehicle platforms

QCraft Expands its Autonomous Driving Stack into the Physical AI Frontier

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The autonomous driving company is moving beyond self-driving cars and into the broader world of Physical AI

QCraft, one of the major providers of autonomous driving technology to OEMs, used this year’s Beijing Auto Show to unveil what it calls the QCraft Physical AI Model. This was a signal that the company sees its future not just in autonomous vehicles, but in a wider category of AI systems that interact with the physical world.

CEO Dr. James Yu framed the pivot in sweeping terms, arguing that the industry is entering a new phase. Where the last decade focused on teaching AI to drive, the next will be defined by Physical AI: systems that can perceive, reason about, and act in real-world environments.

It’s a thesis shared by a growing number of companies in robotics and autonomy, but QCraft is betting that its technical foundation gives it a head start. [Read more…] about QCraft Expands its Autonomous Driving Stack into the Physical AI Frontier

QCraft raises $100 million to push toward Level 4 autonomy and physical AI at scale

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QCraft, a developer of autonomous driving AI, has announced the completion of a $100 million new Series D funding round.

The round was completed by a consortium of investors including Ningbo Ninghai Xingtaihe Fund, Wonderland Capital, Liangxi Science and Innovation Industry Investment Fund Partnership (managed by Broad Vision Funds), as well as strategic investors from a leading OEM and automotive electronics components supplier. [Read more…] about QCraft raises $100 million to push toward Level 4 autonomy and physical AI at scale

QCraft unveils 500+ TOPS autonomous driving platform and expands its autopilot system beyond one million vehicles

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Autonomous driving company QCraft has launched a next-generation intelligent driving platform delivering more than 500 tera operations per second (TOPS) and announced that its Urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) system has now been deployed in more than one million vehicles.

The announcements were made at QCraft Day 2026, held in Beijing on January 23, where the company presented updates on its technology roadmap, mass production progress and global expansion strategy to more than 200 industry guests.

In a keynote address titled “Bringing Autonomous Driving into Real Life”, QCraft co-founder, chairman and CEO Dr James Yu said 2026 would mark the beginning of what he described as a “Golden Decade” for autonomous driving, alongside the arrival of “Superhuman Intelligence”. [Read more…] about QCraft unveils 500+ TOPS autonomous driving platform and expands its autopilot system beyond one million vehicles

Wayve could raise $2 billion in its next funding round with Nvidia in talks to invest $500 million

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Wayve, a specialist in embodied AI for autonomous driving, could be in line to raise as much as $2 billion in its next funding round, according to some observers.

The company recently announced it has signed a letter of intent with Nvidia to evaluate a $500 million strategic investment in Wayve’s next funding round.

This investment builds on Nvidia’s participation in Wayve’s Series C funding round and fuels the company’s continued growth. It also reflects the companies’ shared vision to bring safe, scalable, and production-ready autonomous driving technology to market. [Read more…] about Wayve could raise $2 billion in its next funding round with Nvidia in talks to invest $500 million

Einride autonomous truck crosses border without a human driver onboard

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Einride, a technology company that provides digital, electric and autonomous solutions for road freight, has achieved what it describes as a “historic milestone”: the successful cross-border operation of a cabless electric autonomous vehicle without a human driver onboard.

The autonomous border-crossing took place at the Ørje border crossing, between Norway and Sweden, and marks the world-first cabless electric autonomous crossing of a country’s border.

Autonomous cross-border vehicle operations are challenging due to differing national regulations as well as technical barriers such as inconsistent road signage and customs procedures. [Read more…] about Einride autonomous truck crosses border without a human driver onboard

QCraft sets up European headquarters and partners with Qualcomm

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QCraft has announced plans to establish its European headquarters in Germany and formed a partnership with Qualcomm, marking what the company calls its official entry into the European and global markets.

The Chinese autonomous driving start-up unveiled the strategy at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich.

The new base will oversee research integration, certification processes and business development, with Germany’s automotive ecosystem seen as “fertile ground for QCraft to localize its solutions,” the company said. [Read more…] about QCraft sets up European headquarters and partners with Qualcomm

Motor Ai raises $20 million for autonomous driving software

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In a world racing toward autonomous vehicles, Europe has taken a different path – demanding not just performance, but explainability, safety, and full legal compliance.

Motor Ai is meeting that challenge head-on. The company has announced a $20 million seed funding round to bring its certified, neuroscience-driven technology into full deployment, starting with German public roads.

The seed round was led by Segenia Capital and eCapital, with participation from mobility-focused angels. That reflects the national significance of the technology. The new capital will support hiring, commercial rollouts, and expansion. [Read more…] about Motor Ai raises $20 million for autonomous driving software