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Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

The commercialization of Autonomous driving technology in the trucking industry has rapidly advanced in 2024, presenting substantial potential to address critical industry challenges such as high operational costs, driver shortages, and safety concerns.

It is expected that the global trucking fleet will be supported by an additional half million L4 autonomous drivers, while the remaining drivers will either transition into supervisory roles or continue to operate in less developed regions.

IDTechEx’s recent research on more than 10 companies in the autonomous trucking sector reveals that the industry has officially entered the commercialization phase, marked by deep collaborations across the global supply chain.

[Read more…] about Autonomous trucks: How the US, EU, and China are commercializing driverless logistics

Autonomous truck costs: Key differences between the US and China

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Global analysis of total cost of ownership for autonomous trucks: Key differences and driving factors in the US and China. By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

The autonomous truck industry is experiencing a significant revival, with vehicle delivery numbers continuously breaking records. Companies across Asia, Europe, and the United States are eagerly advancing into the commercialization testing phase.

Autonomous trucks are addressing critical real-world issues by reducing transportation costs and optimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through meticulous, practical calculations.

[Read more…] about Autonomous truck costs: Key differences between the US and China

Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

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By Shihao Fu, technology analyst at IDTechEx

Autonomous buses represent one of the most challenging platforms in the autonomous driving industry. In recent years, commercial interest has shifted towards roboshuttles and robotaxis, partly due to the complex operational design domains (ODD) of autonomous buses.

The typical ODD for a bus requires interactions with a broad range of road users, including more pedestrians, cyclists, bus stops, passengers, and surrounding vehicles.

The larger size of these buses, coupled with their intricate ODD, presents challenges similar to those faced by roboshuttles.

[Read more…] about Autonomous buses: Challenges and opportunities in 2024

In the future, buying cars will ‘feel more like buying a laptop computer’

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By Dr James Jeffs, senior technology analyst at IDTechEx

Computer chips have been part of cars for a long time, but no one really cares about them until they stop working or they are late to the production line, grinding manufacturing to an industry-shaking halt.

However, the research within IDTechEx’s “Semiconductors for Autonomous and Electric Vehicles 2023-2033” report shows that trends within the automotive industry mean consumers will soon be caring far more about what chips are in their cars.

IDTechEx expects that purchasing a new vehicle will soon feel like shopping for a new laptop. [Read more…] about In the future, buying cars will ‘feel more like buying a laptop computer’

How useful can Tesla’s ‘overhyped’ humanoid robot be?

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Research company IDTechEx has been analyzing how useful Tesla’s “overhyped” humanoid robot could be when it is eventually launched. For example, “Will it really be able to serve people?”, asks the analyst.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently unveiled its humanoid robot “Optimus” at the electric vehicle maker’s “AI Day” event. Musk said that a robot business will be worth more than its cars, and he hopes to expand Tesla beyond an electric vehicle manufacturer.

At the show, the Tesla Bot was able to perform a variety of tasks, including watering plants, dancing, and moving metal bars in the automaker’s factory. [Read more…] about How useful can Tesla’s ‘overhyped’ humanoid robot be?

Autonomous trucks make the ‘most compelling case’ for automation in commercial vehicles, says report

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Autonomous trucks make “the most compelling case for automation in commercial vehicles”, according to a new report.

The new IDTechEx study, Heavy-Duty Autonomous Vehicles 2023-2043: Trucks, Buses & Roboshuttles, has found significant activity in the autonomous heavy-duty and commercial vehicle space.

Today, there are hundreds of vehicles around the globe in various stages of trialing, piloting, and even some companies teetering on the precipice of fully unmanned commercial deployment. Each industry has unique strengths and challenges, here are some key findings from the report. [Read more…] about Autonomous trucks make the ‘most compelling case’ for automation in commercial vehicles, says report

Robotics-as-a-Service market growing in the logistics industry

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Between 6 percent and 8 percent of total revenue in the mobile robotics for logistics market comes from Robotics-as-a-Service, according to research company IDTechEx.

X-as-a-Service business models are now commonplace in the industry, involving the delivery of a specific service rather than a product to perform the service.

The most significant change in models such as this is the replacement of a proportionally very large up-front product price with a billing structure that is based on the services performed as the product itself. [Read more…] about Robotics-as-a-Service market growing in the logistics industry

New IDTechEx report outlines future of agricultural robotics industry

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IDTechEx has released Agricultural Robotics Market 2022-2032, a market research report exploring the technical and market factors that are shaping the emerging industry around agricultural robotics.

The agricultural robotics industry has grown quickly in recent years, spurred on by advances in robotics technology and artificial intelligence, and may be set to help alleviate some of the labor issues that are currently threatening global agriculture.

Agricultural robotics, as covered in the new IDTechEx report, can be used to automate a range of agricultural tasks, including weeding, seeding, and harvesting of fresh fruit. [Read more…] about New IDTechEx report outlines future of agricultural robotics industry

Driving will be outlawed for humans by 2050, says IDTechEx

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Autonomous cars will match or exceed human safety by 2024, after which they will grow rapidly at aan annual rate of 30 percent, according to IDTechEx’s new report Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022–2042.

By the 2040s, they will be capable of fulfilling the world’s mobility needs without a single collision. So why should humans be allowed to continue driving?

For a long time, the parameters around how we can drive our vehicles have been restricted. Speed limits exist to increase safety, seatbelts are mandated to increase safety, and city centers are becoming pedestrianized to increase safety for pedestrians. [Read more…] about Driving will be outlawed for humans by 2050, says IDTechEx

Air taxi winners: Watch orders not investment, says IDTechEx

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Air taxi operators are unfazed by the 200 or so organizations designing vertical take-off electric aircraft. The IDTechEx report with the big picture is, Manned Electric Aircraft: Smart City and Regional 2021-2041.

Air taxi operators have placed large orders with a company that models itself on Tesla, entirely making born-electric, conventional take-off, fixed-wing aircraft.

Using extreme lightweighting, efficiency, and aerodynamics, Bye Aerospace has over $250 million of orders for two and four-seaters from air taxi operators and flying schools. It spent only $24 million to have certifiable demonstrators aloft.

Bye is so inundated with orders it has just doubled its prices because the aircraft still cost far less per mile than the polluting traditional equivalents. In the US, 11,000 of those are approaching 50 years old and illegality. Bye deliveries start from 2022. [Read more…] about Air taxi winners: Watch orders not investment, says IDTechEx