Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

urban

Groupe PSA tests test vehicle-to-infrastructure communications in Spain

by

For the first time in an urban environment, The Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia and Groupe PSA are testing the contribution that communication technologies can make to the development of automated vehicle functions.

The aim is to see how well vehicles can communicate with the surrounding infrastructure in a complex urban environment.

The tests carried out in Vigo related to: an automated valet parking system; autonomous driving in an urban environment; optimal speed regulation when approaching a traffic light; and protection of vulnerable users.

[Read more…] about Groupe PSA tests test vehicle-to-infrastructure communications in Spain

DHL launches last-mile drone delivery service in China

by

DHL Express has partnered with autonomous aerial vehicle company EHang to jointly launch a fully automated and intelligent smart drone delivery solution to tackle the last-mile delivery challenges in the urban areas of China.

The launch ceremony was held today at the EHang Command and Control Center in Guangzhou, with the attendance of senior executives from both companies.

This cutting-edge solution takes its inaugural flight for a DHL customer, making DHL the first international express company to provide such a service in China.

[Read more…] about DHL launches last-mile drone delivery service in China

Eclipse Foundation launches openMobility group to plan future of autonomous cars

by

The Eclipse Foundation has launched the openMobility Working Group, which will focus on open and shared collaboration around one of the major issues in urban planning around autonomous vehicles and future transportation requirements – traffic simulation and modelling.

The Eclipse Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that acts as a steward of the Eclipse open source software development community.

Based on the cutting-edge Eclipse Simulation of Urban Mobility project that originated at the German Aerospace Center, the openMobility Working Group brings together researchers and industry to create a common simulation platform for urban areas in a shared collaboration, open source environment.

[Read more…] about Eclipse Foundation launches openMobility group to plan future of autonomous cars

Denso buys a stake in US ‘micromobility’ start-up

by

Denso has taken a stake in US-based Bond Mobility Inc., the world’s only speed eBike sharing company that delivers high-performance micromobility services.

The close of Bond’s $20 million series A funding round was led by Denso’s New Mobility Group out of its global headquarters in Japan, and Ininvest Global.

Denso will use Bond’s technologies to accelerate the development of its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) model.

[Read more…] about Denso buys a stake in US ‘micromobility’ start-up

ThyssenKrupp completes its ‘biggest ever’ automated mobility contract

by

ThyssenKrupp, one of the world’s leading suppliers of elevators and escalators, says it has completed its “biggest ever” contract in Sweden.

The work involved the iconic Urban Escape project in Stockholm.

ThyssenKrupp was asked to supply 53 elevators, 27 escalators and 15 platform lifts for the project.

[Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp completes its ‘biggest ever’ automated mobility contract

Groupe PSA carries out autonomous driving tests in L3Pilot project

by

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

Continental sends out autonomous minibus for a driverless drive

by

Continental, a company which provides a range of automotive solutions such as tyres and advanced driver assistance systems, has been showing off its new autonomous minibus. 

The company calls the vehicle Cube, short for Continental Urban Mobility Experience, and describes it as a “robo-taxi”.

This particular trial of the driverless minibus took place in Frankfurt, Germany.  [Read more…] about Continental sends out autonomous minibus for a driverless drive

Perspective: Learning from urban mobility systems in the Middle East

by

By Ralf Baron, Thomas Kuruvilla, Morsi Berguiga, Michael Zintel, Joseph Salem, and Mario Kerbage

The Middle East may have been late to urbanization, but this has provided a unique opportunity to shape its urban mobility strategies.

Rather than adopting a piecemeal approach, leaders such as Dubai are following an ecosystem model that addresses mobility holistically.

In this article, contributed by experts at consultancy Arthur D Little, the authors explain this new model and the lessons it provides for other cities across the world as they struggle to meet their own urban mobility challenges.  [Read more…] about Perspective: Learning from urban mobility systems in the Middle East

Daimler offers vision of future cities built around autonomous vehicles

by

The Daimler and Benz Foundation is funding what it says is a new interdisciplinary research project which looks at the possible effects of autonomous driving on European cities.

The Foundation says the project is aimed at answering the question: How will autonomous vehicles shape the cities of the future?

Formally entitled “Avenue 21 – Autonomous Transport: Developments in Urban Europe”, the Foundation’s team of scientists is examining the question of how European cities will evolve through autonomous driving – and the influence of urban structures on the development of autonomous traffic.  [Read more…] about Daimler offers vision of future cities built around autonomous vehicles

Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7

by

Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7

Toyota offered test drives of an experimental vehicle featuring a newly developed automated driving system, Urban Teammate, during the 42nd G7 Summit in Ise-Shima, held on May 26 and 27.

In keeping with the philosophy behind Toyota’s Mobility Teammate Concept ― which the company claims is a unique approach to automated driving that “stresses the importance of a partner-like relationship between people and cars” – the Urban Teammate system was created to test the application of automated driving technologies on ordinary roads.

Urban Teammate is Toyota’s successor to Highway Teammate, which was unveiled in October last year. Highway Teammate was developed exclusively to enable vehicles to handle every aspect of highway driving without assistance, including negotiating on-ramps and exit ramps.

[Read more…] about Toyota showcases new autonomous driving system at G7