Robotics & Automation News

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ride-hailing

Robo taxi market predicted to grow from $1.8 billion in 2024 to $500 billion by 2034

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You call a taxi, and instead of a driver, a car shows up to take you wherever you need to go. It’s smooth and convenient, and you never have to worry about parking.

Welcome to the world of robo taxis. These driverless cars are no longer just a sci-fi idea; they’re becoming part of our everyday lives.

As cities become smarter and technology improves, robo taxis are changing the way we travel, offering a faster and more efficient way to get from one place to another. [Read more…] about Robo taxi market predicted to grow from $1.8 billion in 2024 to $500 billion by 2034

Volkswagen and Uber partner to launch autonomous vehicles in the US

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Volkswagen Group of America’s autonomous mobility subsidiary, Volkswagen ADMT, and Uber Technologies, have agreed a strategic partnership to deploy a fleet of thousands of all-electric, fully autonomous ID Buzz AD vehicles within multiple US markets over the next decade, starting in Los Angeles.

Testing is expected to begin later this year, with the first commercial launch expected in Los Angeles in 2026.

During the initial testing and launch phases, ID Buzz AD vehicles will have human operators onboard to help refine the technology and ensure safety. Each step will proceed only after any necessary regulatory approvals have been received. [Read more…] about Volkswagen and Uber partner to launch autonomous vehicles in the US

Lyft agrees new partnerships as it reveals it has ‘40 million’ autonomous vehicle passengers a year

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Lyft, the ride-hailing app provider which claims it is now “one of North America’s largest transportation networks”, has revealed plans for new “multiple autonomous vehicle partnerships” to connect the Lyft community with future autonomous vehicle rides in the Lyft app.

Lyft says the new agreements are its next step in delivering autonomous vehicle rides to millions of people. Lyft and Mobileye, a developer of self-driving tech and advanced driver assistance systems, plan to bring autonomous vehicles to the Lyft network.

Through this partnership, Lyft will make its scaled rideshare platform available to all vehicles with Mobileye’s self-driving technology. [Read more…] about Lyft agrees new partnerships as it reveals it has ‘40 million’ autonomous vehicle passengers a year

Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

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Baidu, an AI company with strong internet foundation and often referred to as China’s equivalent of Google, has embarked on a major expansion of its commercialized fully driverless robotaxi service in Wuhan.

The new expansion would triple the size of its current operation area, increasing the number of robotaxis in service and expanding operating time to include key evening hours.

The move marks a major milestone on Baidu’s ambitious autonomous ride-hailing roadmap, as the company plans to put an additional 200 fully driverless robotaxis into operation across China in 2023, aiming to cover “the largest fully driverless ride-hailing service area in the world” by the end of the year. [Read more…] about Baidu aims to create ‘world’s largest fully driverless ride-hailing area’

Baidu granted China’s ‘first-ever’ permits for commercial driverless ride-hailing services

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Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google, has secured the first permits in China to offer commercial fully driverless robotaxi services to the public on open roads.

Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, is now authorized to collect fares for robotaxi rides – completely without human drivers in the car – in Chongqing and Wuhan, two of China’s largest megacities.

Amid increasing regulatory approval of the expansion of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the permits reflect regulatory authorities’ strong recognition and trust in the strength of Baidu’s autonomous driving technology. [Read more…] about Baidu granted China’s ‘first-ever’ permits for commercial driverless ride-hailing services

Beep and Moovit deliver ride-hailing feature for autonomous shuttles

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Beep, a developer of autonomous mobility solutions, and Moovit, an Intel company and provider of mobility as a service, are partnering to offer riders the chance to hail an autonomous shuttle within Beep’s autonomous mobility networks.

The collaboration will provide customers with an “even more predictable, safer, and sustainable form of alternative mobility” with the Moovit On-Demand capabilities.

The Moovit app will be available to riders in Lake Nona, a 17-square mile master-planned community and advanced district in the City of Orlando, providing a more efficient mobility journey, including shortened wait times, and greater insight into their AV ride and beyond. [Read more…] about Beep and Moovit deliver ride-hailing feature for autonomous shuttles

Baidu wins ‘first’ driverless permits in China for autonomous ride hailing on public roads

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Baidu Apollo Go has received what it says is the “first ever permits in China” that authorize the company to provide driverless ride-hailing services to the public on open road in Beijing.

This regulatory approval marks a significant milestone for the autonomous ride-hailing industry in China, indicating a regulatory openness to taking a further step toward a fully driverless mobility future.

With these permits issued by the head office of the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), ten autonomous vehicles without drivers behind the steering wheel will offer rides to passengers in a designated area of 60 square kilometers in Beijing. [Read more…] about Baidu wins ‘first’ driverless permits in China for autonomous ride hailing on public roads

‘Robotaxis will be disruptive to conventional taxis and ride-hailing, but not car ownership’, says new report

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Robotaxis remain one of the most pursued applications for autonomous vehicle technologies today, with many developers envisioning an end to – or at least a significant reduction in – car ownership.

Developers of autonomous vehicles, specifically those focused on Level-4 self-driving vehicles, often focus on mobility services as the first application.

Not only is there a demonstrated market for taxis and ride-hailing, but it’s a market where the high costs of labor create high prices, making it a ripe opportunity for autonomous vehicle deployment. [Read more…] about ‘Robotaxis will be disruptive to conventional taxis and ride-hailing, but not car ownership’, says new report

Baidu launches robotaxi test service in Shanghai with Apollo Go ride-hailing platform

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Baidu has launched testing of its Apollo Go in Shanghai, marking the fifth city where passengers have the ability to trial the robotaxi mobile platform. Baidu is the only company to offer this service in the three first-tier cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

The Shanghai operation will include 150 stations opened in phases throughout the city to provide users convenient access to residential areas, commercial areas, offices and public transportation. Passengers can use the service from 9.30 am to 11.00 pm every day of the week.

This launch comes on the heels of another milestone for Baidu Apollo – the expansion of Apollo Go to Tongzhou District in Beijing, where the service will enable residents and visitors of the suburb to experience travel in an autonomous vehicle. [Read more…] about Baidu launches robotaxi test service in Shanghai with Apollo Go ride-hailing platform

Baidu partners with automaker BAIC to mass produce Apollo robotaxis

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Baidu, the equivalent of Google in China and a developer of autonomous car technology, is partnering with automaker BAIC Group’s electric vehicle brand ArcFox to jointly release Apollo Moon, a new generation of robotaxis that are set to be mass-produced with a per unit manufacturing price of RMB 480,000 ($75,000). Apollo is a business unit of Baidu.

Said to be “only one third of the cost of average Level 4 autonomous vehicles”, Apollo Moon is described as “a monumental milestone” in the large-scale commercialization of fully autonomous ride-hailing services in the smart transportation industry.

Apollo Moon has a projected operating cycle of over five years and is slated to revolutionize the transportation sector by providing dependable long-term robotaxi ride-hailing services. [Read more…] about Baidu partners with automaker BAIC to mass produce Apollo robotaxis