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Opinion: Will autonomous cars ever gain regulatory approval to operate freely on public roads?

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The news that General Motors has decided to fold Cruise into its overall business should send shock waves through the industry. If Cruise can’t do it, with all its money and giant parent’s backing, who can?

Cruise is a relatively new startup which had huge optimism around it because several billion dollars were invested into it and a lot of people still believe autonomous cars are the future of global road traffic.

But after burning through $10 billion and only generating $500 million in revenue, Cruise seems to have lost its parent company’s confidence and has now been absorbed into the historic automotive giant, with its technology being repackaged into GM production cars as, essentially, an advanced driver assistance system called “Super Cruise”. [Read more…] about Opinion: Will autonomous cars ever gain regulatory approval to operate freely on public roads?

Clevon becomes ‘first company in Europe’ to launch fleet of autonomous driverless ‘carriers’ on public roads

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Clevon, an driverless delivery innovator, and large Lithuanian grocery chain IKI are bringing what they claim is Europe’s first fleet of Autonomous Robot Carriers (ARCs) onto public roads.

Three driverless carriers will offer daily commercial delivery services in the busy Vilnius city centre area and be operated by the last-mile transportation platform LastMile.

Orders will be collected at the IKI store on Mindaugas Street and delivered for free directly to customers’ homes in the city centre area. ARCs deliver the goods and have lockable compartments of different sizes, suitable for smaller and larger online grocery orders. [Read more…] about Clevon becomes ‘first company in Europe’ to launch fleet of autonomous driverless ‘carriers’ on public roads

Advanced Robotics and Automation: Reducing Car Accidents and Saving Lives on the Road

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Car accidents are a leading cause of death and injury worldwide, with millions of people affected by them each year. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, education campaigns, and technology advances, the numbers continue to rise.

However, recent developments in robotics and automation technology have the potential to reduce the frequency and severity of car accidents, ultimately saving lives on the road.

In this article, we will explore how these advancements are shaping the future of driving and creating safer roads for everyone. [Read more…] about Advanced Robotics and Automation: Reducing Car Accidents and Saving Lives on the Road

Clevon collaborates with ZF to orchestrate driverless last-mile delivery fleets

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Clevon, an Estonia-based autonomous delivery vehicles innovator, and ZF, a giant German automotive technology company, have agreed a strategic collaboration that brings together Clevon’s Autonomous Robotic Carrier technology and ZF Scalar, a real-time AI-based fleet orchestration platform. 

Clevon and ZF are joining forces to accelerate the deployment of efficient and integrated next-generation last-mile delivery services using driverless carriers in urban and on-yard environments.

Sander Sebastian Agur, CEO of Clevon, says: “Clevon is making driverless deliveries happen already today. We are active in the US, Belgium, Lithuania, and Estonia. [Read more…] about Clevon collaborates with ZF to orchestrate driverless last-mile delivery fleets

Zoox says its robotaxi is ‘first in the world to operate on public roads’

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Autonomous mobility-as-a-service company, Zoox, has completed what it describes as “a key milestone” – deploying “the world’s first purpose-built robotaxi on open public roads with passengers”.

On February 11, 2023, Zoox conducted the first run of its employee shuttle service in Foster City, California, marking “the first time in history” a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi without traditional driving controls carried passengers on open public roads.

To reach this milestone, Zoox completed rigorous testing on private roads and received approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to operate its robotaxi on the state’s public roads. [Read more…] about Zoox says its robotaxi is ‘first in the world to operate on public roads’

Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries

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Collect&Go, Colruyt Group’s online shopping service, is currently testing the state-of-the-art technology: an autonomous vehicle built by the Estonian technology company Clevon that combines remote teleoperation with advanced autopilot functionality.

The aim is to find out what such a vehicle can mean for Collect&Go in a rapidly changing e-commerce context. Remotely controlled, the self-driving vehicle will take to public roads for the first time today.

In doing so, it will cover a 4-kilometre route, from the distribution centre to Collect&Go’s pick-up point in Londerzeel. This is the longest route ever covered in Belgium by an unmanned vehicle. [Read more…] about Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries

Kodiak Robotics expands autonomous freight service to Florida with USPS partner

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, has expanded its autonomous freight service to Florida with 10 Roads Express, a provider of time sensitive surface transportation for the US Postal Service.

To launch this partnership, Kodiak completed a round trip consisting of four commercial deliveries, including a coast-to-coast commercial run.

A Kodiak autonomous truck carried 10 Roads Express freight nearly 5,600 miles from San Antonio, Texas; to the San Francisco Bay Area; to Jacksonville, Florida; and back to San Antonio. The route was completed in just 114 hours. [Read more…] about Kodiak Robotics expands autonomous freight service to Florida with USPS partner

AutoX expands robotaxi operation zone to 1,000 km

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Alibaba-backed AutoX, a developer of Level 4 fully autonomous cars, or “robotaxis”, now claims to operate “China’s largest autonomous driving area”.

The total area covers 1,000 square kilometers, including a 168-square-kilometer fully driverless zone. AutoX robotaxis are able to navigate all the public roads inside the 1,000 square kilometer area.

Expanding the total autonomous driving area to over 1,000 square kilometers is an important step towards making the robotic taxi service a reality in the daily lives of people in China. [Read more…] about AutoX expands robotaxi operation zone to 1,000 km

Advanced technology adoption will make Indian roads ‘accident-proof’

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A relatively new company called Hi Tech Robotic Systemz (THRSL) says India’s Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s vision for Indian roads will make vehicles “accident-proof”.

In a recent meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the minister advocated for fixed driving hours for commercial truck drivers like that of pilots, as well as a policy mandating on-board sleep detection sensors in commercial vehicles to reduce road accidents in India and give relief to truck drivers.

The logistics sector, which is a key enabler and the backbone of any growing economy, is primarily dependent on drivers who operate for long hours in tough working conditions. [Read more…] about Advanced technology adoption will make Indian roads ‘accident-proof’