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Groupe PSA tests autonomous vehicle through motorway toll

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Groupe PSA and Vinci Autoroutes have carried out further tests to assess a vehicle’s ability to drive autonomously at cruising speed and pass through a tollgate in autonomous mode. A first trial was carried out in 2017.

Two new complex driving situations were also tested in real traffic conditions on the Vinci Autoroutes network: changing into autonomous mode in a traffic area temporarily altered due to roadworks; and performing a “safe stop”.

This involves the vehicle driving to a safe place in the event that the driver does not take back control in a specific situation, for example obstacles on the road, bad weather conditions or the end of the motorway.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA tests autonomous vehicle through motorway toll

Nagel tests Mercedes-Benz eActros electric truck in Hamburg

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The fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros will now take to the roads for the food logistics specialist Nagel-Group in Hamburg.

The vehicle will round off the Mercedes-Benz Trucks eActros “Innovation Fleet” for testing the heavy-duty electric truck.

The first eActros has been taking part in customer testing since September 2018 and the eActros in use by Nagel-Group is the tenth vehicle in the fleet.

[Read more…] about Nagel tests Mercedes-Benz eActros electric truck in Hamburg

Mercedes inaugurates new testing facility for EMC and antenna systems

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Daimler-Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated a new testing facility for electromagnetic compatibility and antenna systems in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart, southern Germany.

The auto giant says electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a key prerequisite for the future of connectivity, autonomous driving, shared, and electric drivetrain.

With the new test facility, Mercedes-Benz takes an important step as a pioneer in the digitisation of the automotive industry. [Read more…] about Mercedes inaugurates new testing facility for EMC and antenna systems

Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany

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A pilot project on truck platooning has been successfully completed by DB Schenker, MAN Truck & Bus and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

‘Platooning’ is when two or more trucks drive in a tight convoy on a motorway, benefiting from reduced air drag. All vehicles driving in the platoon are electronically linked to each other

Operating electronically linked trucks on German motorways is safe, technically reliable and easily applicable in the routine of a logistics company.

[Read more…] about Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany

Lufthansa Technik shows off ‘world’s first’ plane cockpit-testing robot

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Lufthansa Technik has been showing off what it claims is the world’s first airplane cockpit panel testing robot, which it calls “RoCCET”.

RoCCET checks the functionality of LED lights and switches, says Lufthansa Technik, which is part of the Lufthansa Group.

The Robot-based procedure is currently in the integration phase.

[Read more…] about Lufthansa Technik shows off ‘world’s first’ plane cockpit-testing robot

Samsung shows off robot that tests Galaxy Fold smartphone

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Samsung has been showing off the robot the company uses to test the new Galaxy Fold smartphone. (See video below.)

The Galaxy Fold is a new type of smartphone – the main feature being the foldable screen.

The Galaxy Fold was scheduled for release a few days ago, but early reviews suggested that the foldable screen broke after a day’s use.

[Read more…] about Samsung shows off robot that tests Galaxy Fold smartphone

Beam me up, Scotty. Or send me a foldable smartphone

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If you’re among the millions of people who watched the sci-fi TV show Westworld and saw the folding smartphones used by some of the characters, you probably immediately thought, “I want one of those.”

That’s what we thought anyway.

And whereas the old, 1960s Star Trek showed off tablet computers and other technologies many decades before they were beamed into our collective – and possibly holographic – reality, nowadays, things happen slightly faster.

[Read more…] about Beam me up, Scotty. Or send me a foldable smartphone

Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

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Since the start of April, Group PSA’s vehicles equipped with level 3 autonomous driving functions have been operating on open roads in France as part of the European L3Pilot project.

Six to eight vehicles will undergo intensive driving tests to validate autonomous functions on dual carriageways.

The project is strengthening Groupe PSA’s expertise in the development of autonomous vehicles, thanks to a global ecosystem of partners, including European carmakers, research centres and roads authorities.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

Groupe PSA to starts autonomous driving tests on open roads in China

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Groupe PSA has obtained a licence to start autonomous driving tests on open roads in Chongqing, China, the first French carmaker to do so.

Groupe PSA has autonomous car experience in Europe, the challenge is to integrate Groupe PSA’s technology into the Chinese ecosystem as the environment, infrastructure, map system and road users are different.

The company is the first car manufacturer to have tested the autonomous car on open roads in France from July 2015 onwards, as well as the first carmaker to obtain the authorisations to carry out autonomous mode tests with “non-expert” drivers in March 2017.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA to starts autonomous driving tests on open roads in China

Robots taking over from humans in numerous laboratory tasks

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lab automation pic

Robotic lab automation is making progress and removing some of the labor in laboratories, but rarely is it replacing all functions, according to Kalorama Information. 

The healthcare market researcher said the most common use of robots is partial, but that the number of labs using them is on the rise.

Lacking robotics and other types of automation, laboratories may not be able to keep up with the pace of testing, the complexities of new tests, such as those involving molecular diagnostics, and the loss of experienced technicians and technologists.  [Read more…] about Robots taking over from humans in numerous laboratory tasks