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GM to supply Navistar with Hydrotec fuel cells for electric vehicles while Volvo and Scania highlight their own electrification initiatives

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General Motors will supply its Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes to truck-making giant Navistar for use in its production model fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) – the International RHTM Series.

Navistar’s FCEV will get energy from two GM Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes.

Each Hydrotec power cube contains 300-plus hydrogen fuel cells along with thermal and power management systems. [Read more…] about GM to supply Navistar with Hydrotec fuel cells for electric vehicles while Volvo and Scania highlight their own electrification initiatives

Vecna Robotics launches new autonomous forklift truck

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Vecna Robotics, the autonomous mobile robot and workflow orchestration company, has launched its autonomous counterbalanced fork truck, which it describes as “a highly versatile, safe, intelligent and integrated pallet-handling solution”.

The first in the company’s Silverback Series of counterbalanced fork trucks, this next-generation autonomous mobile robot offers vertical lift of up to 72” to help distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing organizations move a wider range of payloads and pallet types, lift inventory to and from equipment, and seamlessly work alongside other materials handling vehicles and human workers to improve efficiency and throughput.

The autonomous mobile robot (AMR) segment is expected to reach $6.8 billion by 2025, according to Frost & Sullivan. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics launches new autonomous forklift truck

Einride driverless trucks now powered by Nvidia chips

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Autonomous electric truck maker Einride says the next generation of its groundbreaking “Pods” will use the Nvidia Drive AGX Orin autonomous vehicle computing platform to handle high-speed, unmanned operations.

Pär Degerman, CTO of Einride, says: “Safety and functionality in autonomous drive are achieved in two ways: diversity and redundancy.

“To capture and account for the diversity in a myriad of operational scenarios, and to develop the redundancy necessary to improve functionality, we need the most advanced processors possible, and that’s where Nvidia Orin comes in.” [Read more…] about Einride driverless trucks now powered by Nvidia chips

Daimler and Volvo launch €1.2 billion venture to develop hydrogen fuel-cell technology for trucks

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Volvo Group and Daimler Trucks have entered into a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize hydrogen fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty trucks as the primary focus, as well as other applications.

The ambition of both partners is to make the new company a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells, and thus help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050.

Volvo will acquire 50 percent of the partnership interests in Daimler Truck Fuel Cell for approximately €600 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Closing of the transaction is expected during the first half of 2021. [Read more…] about Daimler and Volvo launch €1.2 billion venture to develop hydrogen fuel-cell technology for trucks

Locomation completes autonomous truck test involving three states

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Locomation, a startup company providing autonomous trucking technology, has completed an on-road test that involved three different states in America.

The pilot program is intended to showcase autonomous trucking technology for the SmartBelt Coalition (SBC), a collaboration of five transportation agencies and seven research and academic institutions, located throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Over the course of one week, two Locomation trucks performed three separate interstate routes under close observation from representatives of all involved organizations. [Read more…] about Locomation completes autonomous truck test involving three states

Daimler Trucks and Waymo partner on the development of autonomous SAE Level 4 trucks

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Daimler Trucks and Waymo have signed a broad, global, strategic partnership to implement autonomous SAE Level 4 technology. Their initial effort will combine Waymo’s industry-leading automated driver technology with a unique version of Daimler’s Freightliner Cascadia, to enable autonomous driving.

Waymo brings over a decade of experience building what it has trademarked as the “World’s Most Experienced Driver”, having driven over 20 million miles on public roads across 25 US cities and 15 billion miles in simulation.

Daimler Trucks North America, Daimler Trucks’ US subsidiary, parent company of the Freightliner brand and the US market leader in commercial vehicle manufacturing, provides their experience in developing “state-of-the art Class 8 vehicles”. [Read more…] about Daimler Trucks and Waymo partner on the development of autonomous SAE Level 4 trucks

Locomation integrates Nvidia chip into autonomous vehicle

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Locomation, a provider of autonomous trucking technology, says it will use the Nvidia Drive AGX Orin autonomous vehicle computing platform for the commercialization of self-driving trucks starting in 2022.

Locomation’s first commercial product in a series of planned product rollouts is Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARCTM).

ARCTM allows one driver to pilot a lead truck equipped with technology augmentation while a fully autonomous follower truck operates in tandem. [Read more…] about Locomation integrates Nvidia chip into autonomous vehicle

Robotic and Automation News Review: Kassow Robots, Walmart, Wilson Logistics and much more…

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Robotics and Automation News Review Friday 25 September 2020

This is a new, weekly column which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.

This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel. (See video below.)

Please support our website by subscribing to our YouTube channel, by sharing the stories we publish on your social media pages, and by purchasing premium subscriptions to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, as well as through corporate sponsorships and advertising.

[Read more…] about Robotic and Automation News Review: Kassow Robots, Walmart, Wilson Logistics and much more…

The 4 longest and most dangerous haulage routes in the world

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The haulage industry has come a long way from steam powered carts; technological revolution and globalisation have pushed the industry to the forefront, today “85 per cent of everything Brits buy, eat, wear and use is moved by a UK-registered lorry”. From the clothes on your back, to the bricks and mortar that are used to build your home – it probably came in a lorry.

Long haul trucking is defined as any form of trucking that requires the driver to stay away from home because the journey cannot be completed in a day. HGVs are everywhere and are used in all industries, from huge scale machinery movers to retail product delivery.

Drivers are often required to live a partially nomadic lifestyle because the role requires them to regularly commit to long time periods away from home, It is not uncommon for a long-haul driver to travel the whole length of a country and even travel internationally, however, some journeys are considerably longer than others and some pose a greater risk. [Read more…] about The 4 longest and most dangerous haulage routes in the world

Wilson Logistics orders 1,120 autonomous truck systems from Locomation

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Wilson Logistics has ordered 1,120 autonomous truck systems from Locomation. The companies claim this is “the world’s first autonomous truck purchase order”.

Locomation is a provider of autonomous trucking technology and Wilson Logistics is a large transportation logistics company based in Springfield, Missouri, USA.

Under the terms of the deal, a minimum of 1,120 Wilson Logistics tractors or trucks are to be equipped with Locomation’s Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARCTM) technology, with the first units delivered in early 2022. Additionally, the deal amends the commercial agreement between the two companies to extend through 2028. [Read more…] about Wilson Logistics orders 1,120 autonomous truck systems from Locomation