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Jacksonville awards Balfour Beatty, Beep and V2R Team ‘largest-ever’ public sector autonomous shuttle project

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The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has selected the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality Team and Beep, a developer of multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility solutions, to deliver Phase I of the Ultimate Urban Circulator project, the Bay Street Innovation Corridor in Downtown Jacksonville.

Nathaniel Ford Sr, JTA CEO, says: “As the first phase of the U2C program, The Bay Street Innovation Corridor lays the foundation for the U2C vision by introducing autonomous vehicles and enhanced technology to Downtown Jacksonville’s premier mobility corridor.

“We are proud to collaborate with the Balfour Beatty V2R Team and its consortium of world-class and leading firms like BJaceep. [Read more…] about Jacksonville awards Balfour Beatty, Beep and V2R Team ‘largest-ever’ public sector autonomous shuttle project

Volvo and Holcim partner on mining project to use autonomous electric haulers

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Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Holcim Switzerland have entered a collaboration to jointly test and further develop the use of autonomous electric haulers in a limestone quarry.

Holcim’s quarry Gabenchopf in Siggenthal, Switzerland has been chosen as the site for this project.

The battery-electric haulers currently being tested mark a groundbreaking step in the industry: not only are they quieter and more sustainable than conventional haulers, they are also safer – in fact, they are the world’s first commercially available CE-certified electric, autonomous transport solution for the quarry and cement industries. [Read more…] about Volvo and Holcim partner on mining project to use autonomous electric haulers

Uruguay to build world’s largest smart street lighting system in Montevideo

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National Narrowband Network Company (NNNCo), operator of the Australian national LoRaWAN network powered by Actility, has signed a contract with a European technology provider Wellness TechGroup, to provide IoT network coverage to 70,000 smart streetlights in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.

LoRaWAN stands for low-power wide-area network. It defines the communication protocol and system architecture for the network, while the LoRa physical layer enables the long-range communication link. LoRaWAN is also responsible for managing the communication frequencies, data rate, and power for all devices.

The Montevideo infrastructure will include a private LoRaWAN network based on Actility’s ThingPark Enterprise IoT platform, and managed on customer premises. [Read more…] about Uruguay to build world’s largest smart street lighting system in Montevideo

Magazino provides its Soto warehouse robot to automotive giant ZF

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Germany-based robotics company Magazino has won an order from automotive technology giant ZF Friedrichshafen for a pilot project with its Soto robot.

The mobile robot Soto automates material supply between the warehouse and the assembly line and transports small load carriers (KLT) completely autonomously.

The pilot project started at the Friedrichshafen site in the transmission assembly for commercial vehicles and offers both sides the opportunity to gain experience with the robot for live operation. [Read more…] about Magazino provides its Soto warehouse robot to automotive giant ZF

Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the award of a contract to build a first in the United States public wireless in-road charging system allowing electric vehicles to charge while in motion and stationary.

A company called Electreon has been selected to build an electric road system in Detroit as part of the inductive vehicle charging pilot program.

Governor Whitmer says: “As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system

Robot designed by WHOI to explore underwater glacial walls to monitor climate change

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It’s the front line of climate change and could hold the key to predicting global sea level rise, but what goes on at the underwater face of Greenland’s glaciers is a mystery to science.

That could change in 2023 with a bold new mission led by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin that will explore three of Greenland’s glaciers with a submersible robot.

The voyage will be the first time Greenland’s glaciers – which make up the world’s second-largest ice sheet – will be seen up close underwater. [Read more…] about Robot designed by WHOI to explore underwater glacial walls to monitor climate change

Comau creates high-volume electric drive assembly line for Geely to ‘double its automation rate’

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Comau has developed and implemented an automated electric vehicle drive assembly line for Geely Automobile, one of China’s largest automakers, at the Geely Veremt plant in Ningbo, China.

The assembly line is specifically created for the end-to-end assembly of the electric motor, gearbox and inverter.

Designed in close collaboration with the Geely team, the complete line uses a flexible automatic production system to assemble the permanent magnet motor rotors, gearboxes and electronics drives, in addition to automated quality control and testing. [Read more…] about Comau creates high-volume electric drive assembly line for Geely to ‘double its automation rate’

Kuka to build smart factory for digital construction company Admares

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Industrial automation giant Kuka is to build a smart factory for digital construction company Admares.

The two companies say the project will “revolutionize the construction of buildings”.

Admares is said to be “the world’s leading provider of alternative real estate and pioneering construction methods”. And the company is pursuing the vision of future-oriented smart factories. [Read more…] about Kuka to build smart factory for digital construction company Admares

Finland university aims to solve cruise liner passenger safety issues with ‘coughing robot’

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Finland’s Healthy Travel project, based at the Åbo Akademi University, is aiming to offer the global cruise industry a lifeline as cruise lines aim to set sail safely once again – through the use of a “coughing robot”.

In the multi-disciplinary initiative, Finnish academic researchers, cruise companies, shipyards, and subcontractors are coming together to develop and implement science-based solutions that will improve health and safety on cruise ships and in terminal buildings.

Finland’s Ambassador to the United States, Mikko Hautala, and his team are now connecting American cruise companies with their Finnish counterparts to ensure that the US cruise industry – the largest in the world – is an active participant in the recovery and future of the global cruise industry. [Read more…] about Finland university aims to solve cruise liner passenger safety issues with ‘coughing robot’

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority seeks volunteers to test connected vehicle technology

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Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is moving to the next stage in testing and implementing connected vehicle technology in Tampa with four auto manufacturers on board.

THEA is recruiting volunteer drivers who drive a Honda, Acura, Hyundai, Kia or Toyota for the THEA Connected Vehicle Pilot. This research project has the potential to improve driving safety in downtown Tampa and beyond. Eligible participating drivers receive up to a 30 percent rebate for tolls on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.

In this phase, THEA expects to equip approximately 300 privately owned automobiles with connected vehicle technology by late 2022. Volunteers’ automobiles will be outfitted with devices that “talk” to other connected vehicles and to roadway infrastructure to help prevent crashes. [Read more…] about Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority seeks volunteers to test connected vehicle technology