Market trends and business perspectives
Autonomous vehicles are the future and becoming increasingly common on the roads along with many impressive driverless features.
However, as we move along into the winter months, it is worth raising the question of whether or not these cars are safe in the winter conditions.
This particular time of the year has been known to pose extra challenges on the road. [Read more…] about Are autonomous cars safe in bad driving conditions?
Siemens Digital Industries Software and VSI Labs, a leading researcher of active safety and autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies, announced that they are partnering to further advance development of self-driving car technology. Through the partnership, Siemens’ PAVE360™ platform will be used to create digital twin simulations for the validation and testing of all processors, electronics, sensors and systems powering the VSI Labs Capability Demonstrator — an advanced AV development vehicle equipped with components from best-in-class automotive technology leaders and integrated by VSI solutions engineers.
“The primary objective of this partnership is to demonstrate equivalence between Siemens’ industry-leading digital twin technology and a physical platform, thereby increasing confidence in digital twin-based modeling methodologies well in advance of the existence of a physical vehicle,” said Ravi Subramanian, senior vice president, IC Verification, Mentor, a Siemens business. “This collaboration with VSI has the potential to significantly advance the AV space with the creation of a high-fidelity autonomous vehicle digital twin that simulates the interaction and combined power of the most advanced AV components and technologies in the world.” [Read more…] about Siemens and VSI Labs partner to advance autonomous vehicle development
Wilson Logistics has ordered 1,120 autonomous truck systems from Locomation. The companies claim this is “the world’s first autonomous truck purchase order”.
Locomation is a provider of autonomous trucking technology and Wilson Logistics is a large transportation logistics company based in Springfield, Missouri, USA.
Under the terms of the deal, a minimum of 1,120 Wilson Logistics tractors or trucks are to be equipped with Locomation’s Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARCTM) technology, with the first units delivered in early 2022. Additionally, the deal amends the commercial agreement between the two companies to extend through 2028. [Read more…] about Wilson Logistics orders 1,120 autonomous truck systems from Locomation
For the first time in an urban environment, The Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia and Groupe PSA are testing the contribution that communication technologies can make to the development of automated vehicle functions.
The aim is to see how well vehicles can communicate with the surrounding infrastructure in a complex urban environment.
The tests carried out in Vigo related to: an automated valet parking system; autonomous driving in an urban environment; optimal speed regulation when approaching a traffic light; and protection of vulnerable users.
[Read more…] about Groupe PSA tests test vehicle-to-infrastructure communications in Spain
Groupe PSA and Vinci Autoroutes have carried out further tests to assess a vehicle’s ability to drive autonomously at cruising speed and pass through a tollgate in autonomous mode. A first trial was carried out in 2017.
Two new complex driving situations were also tested in real traffic conditions on the Vinci Autoroutes network: changing into autonomous mode in a traffic area temporarily altered due to roadworks; and performing a “safe stop”.
This involves the vehicle driving to a safe place in the event that the driver does not take back control in a specific situation, for example obstacles on the road, bad weather conditions or the end of the motorway.
[Read more…] about Groupe PSA tests autonomous vehicle through motorway toll
ThorDrive, an autonomous vehicle (AV) startup, is introducing commercial vehicle services in the first of many pilots in the USA.
The initial service, in partnership with Hassett ACE Hardware, will support selected residents and fire departments in Palo Alto, California, with plans to expand to additional pilots soon.
The ThorDrive platform is using Velodyne’s lidar sensors to provide rich data content for its AV software.
[Read more…] about Velodyne Lidar sensors power ThorDrive’s autonomous driving pilot
Cruise and General Motors have joined forces with Honda to pursue the shared goal of transforming mobility through the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicle technology.
Honda will work jointly with Cruise and General Motors to fund and develop a purpose-built autonomous vehicle for Cruise that can serve a wide variety of use cases and be manufactured at high volume for global deployment.
In addition, Cruise, General Motors and Honda will explore global opportunities for commercial deployment of the Cruise network.
[Read more…] about Honda, Cruise and GM team up to build new autonomous vehicle
At the Paris Motor Show, Groupe Renault unveiled EZ-Ultimo, its robo-vehicle concept, an autonomous, electric, connected, and shared mobility service solution offering a premium travel experience.
Available on-demand, for a single trip, for an hour or for a day, EZ-Ultimo caters to people looking to enhance a special moment through a private trip in a city, a premium tourist experience or businesses looking to offer premium journey services to its clients.
“As consumer trends change and people are enjoying ride-hailing services more and more, a new paradigm for mobility will emerge,” said Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s SVP Corporate Design.
[Read more…] about Renault unveils its latest autonomous vehicle concept at Paris Motor Show
At the BMW AG Annual General Meeting in May 2018, Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management at the BMW Group, described iNext as follows: “The iNext project will provide our building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit.”
iNext addresses the big question that is at the heart of the BMW Group’s day-to-day work: “How will we be moving around in future?” iNext builds on the idea that first took shape in 2007 with “project i” and evolved into the launch of the BMW i3 in 2013.
The BMW Group has already achieved a great deal on this front: it now has over ten years of experience with electric mobility under its belt in both small-scale and large-scale production, the BMW i models are being improved all the time, and their technology is being employed to gradually electrify models from the BMW and MINI ranges.
[Read more…] about BMW to build entire future around iNext autonomous electric concept
A company called Next Future Transportation has launched a driverless vehicle that it describes as an autonomous “Parcel Delivery Solution”. (See video below.)
The vehicle could also be used as a minibus for transporting people.
Next claims it is “the world’s first Modular Mobile Parcel Locker” and that the company is “the world’s only modular electric vehicle solutions provider”. [Read more…] about Next Future Transportation launches autonomous vehicle
