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Autonomous vehicle development will be stalled by technological and regulatory barriers, says report

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Autonomous vehicles are currently more hype than substance, given the significant technological, financial, and regulatory barriers to their widespread use, according to GlobalData.

In its latest report, Tech, Media, & Telecom Predictions 2022, the data and analytics company predicts that focus will shift onto “lower-level” autonomous vehicles that require greater human supervision, while mergers and acquisition activity will continue to be driven by transport technology such as robotaxis.

Amrit Dhami, thematic analyst at GlobalData, offers her view on these predictions. She says technological barriers will shift focus onto lower-level autonomous vehicles. [Read more…] about Autonomous vehicle development will be stalled by technological and regulatory barriers, says report

Mercedes-Benz partners with Luminar to develop automated driving systems

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Mercedes-Benz and Luminar Technologies has agreed a partnership to accelerate development of future automated driving technologies for passenger cars.

A central component of this is the optimal access to new technologies and global competencies.

The new partnership with Luminar underlines Mercedes-Benz’s policy of continuously expanding its network of top-flight tech partners and suppliers for passenger cars. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz partners with Luminar to develop automated driving systems

Cyngn and Columbia Vehicle Group to begin building fleet of autonomous industrial vehicles

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Cyngn and Columbia Vehicle Group have started the production of autonomous Columbia Stockchaser vehicles powered by Cyngn’s Enterprise Autonomy Suite.

Cyngn is a developer of innovative autonomous driving software solutions for industrial and commercial enterprises, while Columbia Vehicle Group is an electric vehicle manufacturer serving industrial and commercial environments.

This growing autonomous vehicle fleet will enable Cyngn to make its self-driving solutions on Columbia vehicles available to more customers. [Read more…] about Cyngn and Columbia Vehicle Group to begin building fleet of autonomous industrial vehicles

Nuro raises $600 million in Series D funding

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Nuro, a startup that has produced an autonomous delivery vehicle, has raised $600 million in its latest funding round. The company is currently valued at almost $10 billion and is building a manufacturing facility in Nevada.

This latest financing round was led by Tiger Global Management with participation from Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Gaorong Capital, Google, Kroger, SoftBank Vision Fund 1, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Woven Capital, and other existing investors as part of the company’s Series D funding round.

This $600 million financing will support the development and deployment of Nuro’s autonomous delivery service in communities across the country. [Read more…] about Nuro raises $600 million in Series D funding

Ouster and Vecna Robotics partner to accelerate material handling automation

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Ouster, a provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, has signed a strategic customer agreement with Vecna Robotics, a material handling automation company and autonomous mobile robot maker.

The agreement includes a non-binding forecast for approximately 3,000 OS digital lidar sensors through 2025 as Vecna Robotics scales production to meet increasing customer demand for warehouse and logistics automation.

Vecna Robotics plans to fuse Ouster lidar into its multi-sensor autonomy stack to equip self-driving pallet trucks, tow tractors, and lift trucks for high-capacity material handling operations. [Read more…] about Ouster and Vecna Robotics partner to accelerate material handling automation

Gillig and Robotic Research partner to develop autonomous buses

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Gillig, a manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, and RR.AI, a provider of autonomous mobility solutions, have reached an agreement to develop “next-generation advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle technology” for Gillig transit buses in North America.

This partnership will combine RR.AI’s vehicle automation experience and Gillig’s transit operations expertise to produce “state-of-the-art safety and performance capabilities”.

Derek Maunus, Gillig president and CEO, says: “We see this partnership as a great fit for both our companies. [Read more…] about Gillig and Robotic Research partner to develop autonomous buses

Interview: Energy Systems Network CEO Paul Mitchell talks about the future of cars and Indy Autonomous Challenge

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It’s been a while since we wrote up an interview, mainly because they take a long time to transcribe and edit into a readable article. And we’re not yet a large enough website to devote time to doing that because there are many other stories that would have to wait while we’re busy doing that.

However, the subject of electric vehicles and EV charging networks are important technologies that literally millions of people have been reading about on this website, and we think they will find this interview interesting.

The interview is with Paul Mitchell, president and CEO of Energy Systems Network, a US-based nonprofit which could be described as a kind of public-private partnership with the aim of discovering and commercialising technologies that provide a platform for the continued healthy growth of the entire clean-energy future of moving machines – cars and other road-going vehicles in particular, but possibly even marine vessels and other types of craft such as drones and maybe even planes. [Read more…] about Interview: Energy Systems Network CEO Paul Mitchell talks about the future of cars and Indy Autonomous Challenge

REE starts trials of new electric platform for delivery vehicles

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REE Automotive is commencing trials of its all-new P7 platform designed for commercial delivery vehicles and walk-in vans.

The P7 platform, targeted to a US based delivery van program, was designed based on functional and operational specifications from one of the world’s largest delivery companies.

Fully flat from end-to-end, P7 offers greatest interior space and volumetric efficiency for vehicles in classes 3-5. [Read more…] about REE starts trials of new electric platform for delivery vehicles

A history of advanced driver assistance systems

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In its report, Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022–2042, IDTechEx predicts that SAE Level 3 autonomous features, such as traffic jam pilot, will emerge in 2022 and become common in vehicles by 2042.

How did IDTechEx predict this time scale? The answer lies in the historical adoption trends of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies.

Everyone is familiar with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control; you would not have even thought to ask about them when purchasing your last car. [Read more…] about A history of advanced driver assistance systems

ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

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Industrial automation company ABB and China’s leading automotive parts supplier, HASCO, have agreed to create a joint venture to drive the next generation of smart manufacturing in China’s automotive industry.

The joint venture will build on the existing successful relationship between the two companies, leading to the crucial development of highly flexible and sustainable auto parts manufacturing within HASCO’s China-based operations.

As the automotive industry’s transition towards electric vehicles gathers pace, parts manufacturers must increasingly invest in flexible facilities that can respond to rapidly changing demands and trends. [Read more…] about ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier