Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Autonomous Vehicles

Embark provides Texas law enforcement with autonomous trucks

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, is making progress in its efforts to develop an emergency vehicle interaction capability for Embark-powered autonomous trucks to identify, stop for, and interface with law enforcement vehicles.

Embark is working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety to train Embark-powered trucks to identify law enforcement vehicles in situations such as traffic stops, and to develop communication protocols and standard operating procedures between autonomous trucks and law enforcement officers.

Embark plans to publicly demonstrate the emergency vehicle interaction capability later this summer. [Read more…] about Embark provides Texas law enforcement with autonomous trucks

Trimble implements new localization system for autonomous vehicles

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Trimble has released details of the first deployment of its map-based localization system for land-based autonomous vehicle applications.

IHI Corporation, a heavy industry manufacturer based in Japan, will retrofit its existing container and haulage trucks with a customized Applanix POS LV system as part of its broader autonomy capabilities for the transport of goods around industrial facilities.

Map-based localization provides precise positioning and orientation estimation, augmenting GNSS/inertial data, which is critical for safe and efficient autonomous vehicle operations. The ability to provide IHI Corporation a full workflow and real-time data ensures seamless integration into IHI’s truck design. [Read more…] about Trimble implements new localization system for autonomous vehicles

SafeAI, Siemens and Obayashi collaborate to develop retrofitted autonomous, zero emission, off-road heavy vehicles

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SafeAI, a developer of autonomous heavy equipment, is collaborating with Siemens to create an autonomous, zero emission heavy vehicle fleet for Obayashi Corporation.

SafeAI and Siemens will work with Obayashi Corporation, a Japan-based global leader in construction, to create smarter, safer, more sustainable and productive construction sites.

SafeAI and Obayashi originally announced their partnership in October 2020, beginning with a pilot site in Cupertino, California, USA. [Read more…] about SafeAI, Siemens and Obayashi collaborate to develop retrofitted autonomous, zero emission, off-road heavy vehicles

Kodiak Robotics releases new tech to simplify autonomous truck maintenance

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, has demonstrated how its proprietary SensorPod hardware “simplifies autonomous truck maintenance and increases truck utilization” by eliminating the need for a specialized technician to replace autonomous vehicle sensors.

As part of a technical partnership with Southern Tire Mart/Southern Tire Mart at Pilot, Kodiak has demonstrated that its pre-calibrated, pre-built SensorPods, which replace the truck’s stock side-view mirrors, can be completely removed and replaced by a mechanic without specialized training.

Servicing and maintaining most autonomous truck sensor systems requires significant time and specialized training, which complicates repairs since long-haul trucks can travel thousands of miles per trip and may need service in remote locations. [Read more…] about Kodiak Robotics releases new tech to simplify autonomous truck maintenance

Motional and Uber launch autonomous deliveries of food

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Motional and Uber have launched autonomous deliveries for Uber Eats customers in Santa Monica, California.

Motional’s all-electric IONIQ 5 vehicles, operating autonomously, are now conducting end-to-end food deliveries.

Abe Ghabra, Motional’s chief operating officer, says: “Autonomous delivery signifies the next phase of Motional’s commercial roadmap. [Read more…] about Motional and Uber launch autonomous deliveries of food

Einride unveils expanded product offerings for its autonomous trucks

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Swedish freight technology company Einride has unveiled new product offerings to its hardware and software lineups including designs for an Einride Trailer and new features and functionality on the Einride Saga platform.

These build outs of the Saga UI experience via new apps and a new API (application programming interface) developer platform, in addition to presenting what is possible for the future of Einride’s hardware, further underline the company’s deepening offering of freight mobility solutions for customers.

Robert Falck, founder and CEO of Einride, says: “By offering these latest product offerings with Saga and showcasing our latest designs for future electric freight hardware, we are able to tap into an even larger potential to help shippers transition towards electric and being able to cost competitively reach their sustainability goals. [Read more…] about Einride unveils expanded product offerings for its autonomous trucks

Kodiak Robotics demonstrates new safety technology for autonomous trucks

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Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving trucking company, says it has become the first company to publicly demonstrate a “fallback” system, which can autonomously pull a self-driving truck over to the side of the road in the event of a truck or system failure. (See video below.)

The ability to perform a safe, reliable fallback, otherwise known as having the vehicle assume a minimal risk condition, is critical to safely deploying driverless trucks on public roads.

Don Burnette, founder and CEO, Kodiak, says: “To launch an autonomous vehicle without a human driver, you must ensure the vehicle will protect motorists in the case of a truck or autonomous system failure. [Read more…] about Kodiak Robotics demonstrates new safety technology for autonomous trucks

Latest Euro NCAP gradings show Nissan and Volkswagen are ‘bringing high-performance assisted driving to the mainstream’

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The latest round of Euro NCAP results feature assessment of four new cars with “Level 2 Assisted Driving systems”.

The gradings are based on dedicated protocols designed to encourage the safe adoption of Assisted Driving technology.

The safest systems should provide a good balance of performance across three key areas: the technical competence of the system and level of assistance it can safely offer, the feedback given to the driver to ensure they remain engaged and aware of their responsibilities, and how the car’s safety back-up mechanisms function in the event of an emergency. [Read more…] about Latest Euro NCAP gradings show Nissan and Volkswagen are ‘bringing high-performance assisted driving to the mainstream’

New Nascar vehicle crash tested using robots from AB Dynamics

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Automotive test solution supplier AB Dynamics partnered with famous American motor racing competition Nascar to conduct a driverless, on-track crash test of its “Next Gen” race car that is running in the 2022 Cup Series.

The test vehicle was driven at high speed to a pre-programmed course by driving robots into the banking wall at Talladega Superspeedway.

The aim was to test the safety of the vehicle and the impact on the driver in this type of accident, which is a common crash scenario in the series. [Read more…] about New Nascar vehicle crash tested using robots from AB Dynamics

Beep and Moovit deliver ride-hailing feature for autonomous shuttles

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Beep, a developer of autonomous mobility solutions, and Moovit, an Intel company and provider of mobility as a service, are partnering to offer riders the chance to hail an autonomous shuttle within Beep’s autonomous mobility networks.

The collaboration will provide customers with an “even more predictable, safer, and sustainable form of alternative mobility” with the Moovit On-Demand capabilities.

The Moovit app will be available to riders in Lake Nona, a 17-square mile master-planned community and advanced district in the City of Orlando, providing a more efficient mobility journey, including shortened wait times, and greater insight into their AV ride and beyond. [Read more…] about Beep and Moovit deliver ride-hailing feature for autonomous shuttles