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Ocean engineers optimize design and performance of autonomous underwater vehicle

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Almost two years ago, Dive Technologies, a subsea robotics designer and manufacturer based in Boston, began a multiyear partnership with researchers and students at the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics to develop a novel commercial autonomous underwater vehicle.

In April 2021, Dive Technologies delivered the DIVE-LD to market, a design they see as the most capable large-displacement autonomous underwater vehicle, in terms of the reliability, endurance, and navigational accuracy it brings to global commercial and defense customers.

With the first round of sea trials of their craft complete, the DIVE-LD’s performance has already exceeded expectations, but the team behind the self-propelled, unmanned, untethered underwater vehicle is driven to take it even further. They’re now back in the lab, working diligently to refine the vehicle’s software systems and optimize hydrodynamic performance. [Read more…] about Ocean engineers optimize design and performance of autonomous underwater vehicle

Hyundai and Motional unveil new robotaxi

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Auto manufacturer Hyundai and autonomous vehicle technology developer Motional have partnered to launch a new robotaxi.

The all-electric Ioniq 5-based robotaxi is Motional’s first commercial vehicle and will be used in its fully driverless public ride-hail service starting in 2023.

The vehicle represents the product of “unparalleled expertise and partnership” between Motional and Hyundai Motor Group. [Read more…] about Hyundai and Motional unveil new robotaxi

US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

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Stratom, a developer of autonomous ground vehicles and robotic systems for logistics and operational applications, has been selected as part of an exclusive team to deliver the US Department of Defense’s Stage II of the Modular Autonomy and Robotic Software program, which involves the collaborative migration of Robotic Technology Kernel software modules from the first version of the Robot Operating System to ROS 2. 

For nearly a decade, the US government has been developing ROS-M (Robotic Operating System-Military), an ecosystem of software architectures, reusable components and supporting infrastructure to enable rapid development and fielding of robotic and autonomous systems.

Built on ROS 1, ROS-M enables the DoD to benefit from open-source development practices while maintaining tight control over the community-developed code. However, ROS 1’s current revision, Noetic, is set to be the last version, with support ending in 2025. [Read more…] about US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

AutoX autonomous vehicle navigates through China’s urban villages

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AutoX, a developer of Level 4 fully autonomous RoboTaxis founded by e-commerce giant Alibaba, has released a new video this week showcasing how its fully driverless RoboTaxis handle the challenging rush hour conditions of China’s “urban villages” in what is described as the “ultimate autonomous driving challenge”.

Unique to China, urban villages are ultra high-density residential neighborhoods in major cities, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou, that are typically surrounded by skyscrapers, transportation infrastructure, and other modern urban developments.

The public roads in urban villages are extremely busy, chaotic and overcrowded, especially in the early evening. [Read more…] about AutoX autonomous vehicle navigates through China’s urban villages

Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

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Cleveron, an Estonian-based technology company, partnered with LRK Driving School to conduct what they say are “the world’s first driving exams with an unmanned semi-autonomous car”.

The exams were carried out with Cleveron’s last-mile delivery vehicle Cleveron 701. All four Cleveron specialists passed the exam and received the world’s first tele-operated vehicle certificates.

To receive the certificate, drivers first had to undergo special tele-operated vehicle training, followed by field exercises and city driving, in accordance with the Estonian examination standards. [Read more…] about Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

Cepton secures ‘industry’s largest” ADAS lidar deal with global automotive manufacturer

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Lidar solutions provider Cepton Technologies has secured an ADAS lidar series production award at a leading, Detroit-based global automotive manufacturer.

Cepton says the contract is “the industry’s largest award to date”.

This represents a landmark milestone both for the lidar industry as well as for Silicon Valley-based Cepton, which celebrates its five-year anniversary this month. [Read more…] about Cepton secures ‘industry’s largest” ADAS lidar deal with global automotive manufacturer

Perrone Robotics confirms commitment to develop autonomous vehicle test facility at ACM

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Perrone Robotics, a provider of fully automated vehicle technology and solutions, has “solidified its commitment” to develop an advanced automated vehicle test facility at the American Center for Mobility (ACM) in Ypsilanti, Michigan by signing a new lease.

ACM’s smart mobility test center will enable Perrone’s team to work on high-speed, long-term, and continuous testing of a wide range of transit vans, shuttles, cargo vehicles, and trucks integrated with Perrone’s patented autonomous vehicle TONY Retrofit solution.

Perrone’s signed commitment with ACM comes just a few short months after the company received a $10 million investment from CapStone Holdings. The funding will support Perrone as it continues to advance its leadership role in the mobility industry. [Read more…] about Perrone Robotics confirms commitment to develop autonomous vehicle test facility at ACM

Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

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A startup company called Ghost has raised $100 million Series D financing, fueling the development of its autonomous driving system that features what it describes as “a revolutionary breakthrough in crash prevention”.

Returning investors Sutter Hill Ventures and Founders Fund participated in the round, along with a new commitment from Coatue.

Ghost was founded in 2017 with the belief that driving should not be dangerous. Despite all the technology and features included in modern cars, cars still crash – accidents and fatalities are going up, not down. [Read more…] about Ghost raises $100 million for ‘breakthrough’ in autonomous driving safety

Estonian company Auve Tech launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous hydrogen vehicle

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What has been described as “the world’s first autonomous hydrogen vehicle” has now been officially launched.

Created by the Estonian enterprise Auve Tech in cooperation with University of Tartu researchers, the vehicle was presented to the public for the first time in Tartu, a city in eastern Estonia. The first passenger on the hydrogen vehicle was the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid.

The hydrogen shuttle, which at the beginning of June successfully drove its first test kilometers and was authorised by the Estonian Road Administration for public traffic, was completed thanks to the collaboration that started in February 2020. [Read more…] about Estonian company Auve Tech launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous hydrogen vehicle

AutoX launches new version of its fully driverless system production for ‘RoboTaxis’

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AutoX has launched the production of its latest “Gen5 system for fully driverless RoboTaxis”.

The AutoX Gen5 was launched at the Crowne Plaza Shanghai Anting recently when AutoX founder and CEO, Dr Jianxiong Xiao, unveiled the technology behind the Gen5 system.

The Gen5 system has 50 sensors in total, as well as a vehicle control unit of 2,200 TOPS computing power. [Read more…] about AutoX launches new version of its fully driverless system production for ‘RoboTaxis’