Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

robotaxi

Hyundai to manufacture robotaxi in Singapore

by

Hyundai and Motional – a specialist developer of autonomous vehicle technology – have opened the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) and announce that Hyundai and Motional’s jointly developed all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxi will be manufactured at HMGICS.

The first production-ready IONIQ 5 robotaxis will be deployed as part of Motional’s commercial services in the US, starting in 2024.

Additionally, Motional and the Group revealed today that the IONIQ 5 robotaxi is one of the first SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs) to be certified under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). [Read more…] about Hyundai to manufacture robotaxi in Singapore

Robotaxis: The revolutionary mobility choice of the future

by

Every 24 seconds, one person dies in a road accident, according to United Nations (un.org) in its road safety fact sheet published in 2021. It is also stated that more than 90 per cent of car accidents occur due to human errors.

Transportation accounted for 37 per cent of CO2 emissions from end‐use sectors in 2021, as per International Energy Agency.

The above figures talk aloud about the two biggest challenges the transportation industry is facing today:

  1. passenger safety; and
  2. emissions.

Countries world over are putting efforts in terms of changes in policies, subsidies, incentives, and what not, to put a brake on these two issues which see no signs of abatement in the short time period. [Read more…] about Robotaxis: The revolutionary mobility choice of the future

Motional to add new features to its robotaxi service

by

Ride-hail passengers in Las Vegas can now take an autonomous ride in a Motional IONIQ 5 robotaxi at night

“Las Vegas is a city that really comes alive once the sun goes down, so extending our service to match rider demand is a critical step forward in the evolution of our vehicle,” says Akshay Jaising, Motional’s vice president of commercialization.

“We’re happy we can now spend more hours everyday introducing passengers to our technology, and helping them travel safely and comfortably where they need to go.”

Night driving is one of three passenger-friendly service upgrades making their way to Motional’s fleet of all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxis, which have been carrying public passengers in Las Vegas since August. [Read more…] about Motional to add new features to its robotaxi service

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

by

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’

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

by

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’

Pony.ai and SAIC AI Lab to develop fully driverless EV robotaxi

by

Pony.ai, a leading global autonomous driving technology company, is collaborating with SAIC AI Lab, a division of SAIC Motor (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), China’s largest auto manufacturer, to jointly explore and advance driverless technology.

Together with SAIC AI Lab, Pony.ai launched a concept vehicle based on the SAIC Marvel R model and will build out a fleet of autonomous vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s L4-level driverless solutions, over time.

The concept car is equipped with the latest generation of Pony.ai technology, which utilizes 17 integrated automotive-grade sensors to create a 360-degree visual range covering 200 meters, eliminating blind spots around the vehicle. [Read more…] about Pony.ai and SAIC AI Lab to develop fully driverless EV robotaxi

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

by

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

Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation

by

Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google or Alphabet, has unveiled its next-generation fully autonomous vehicle, the Apollo RT6, an all-electric, production-ready model with a detachable steering wheel.

Designed for complex urban environments, Apollo RT6 will be put into operation in China in 2023 on Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service.

With a per unit cost of RMB 250,000 (approximately $37,000), the arrival of Apollo RT6 is set to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment at scale, bringing the world closer to a future of driverless shared mobility. [Read more…] about Baidu unveils next-generation autonomous vehicle for robotaxi operation

Pony.ai wins approval for public driverless robotaxi service in Beijing

by

Pony.ai, the leading global autonomous driving technology company, today announced that the general public in Beijing, China, will be able to experience driverless robotaxis for the first time.

Pony.ai was one of two robotaxi operators awarded a permit by Beijing city authorities to offer driverless service in southeastern Beijing.

Pony.ai has had a permit to driverless test since October 2021 but not with the general public in the car. [Read more…] about Pony.ai wins approval for public driverless robotaxi service in Beijing

Pony.ai becomes ‘first’ autonomous driving company to receive taxi license in China

by

Pony.ai, an autonomous driving technology company, claims it has become the “first and only autonomous driving company to obtain a taxi license in China”.

Pony.ai was awarded a permit to operate 100 autonomous vehicles as traditional taxis in Nansha, Guangzhou.

In May, Pony.ai will start charging fares in the entire 800 square kilometers of Nansha with 100 robotaxis and intends to gradually expand the scale and scope of service to other areas of Guangzhou to benefit more residents. [Read more…] about Pony.ai becomes ‘first’ autonomous driving company to receive taxi license in China