Audi has been demonstrating its advanced manufacturing technologies, much of which went into building its newly opened smart factory in Mexico, where the automaker’s Q5 vehicle is being produced. [Read more…] about Audi shows off its smart factory technologies
cars
nuTonomy to test its self-driving cars on public roads in Boston
On-street testing will begin before the end of 2016 in Raymond Flynn Marine Park
nuTonomy, the developer of software for self-driving cars, has signed a deal with the City of Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that authorizes nuTonomy to begin testing its growing fleet of self-driving cars on specific public streets in a designated area of Boston.
nuTonomy will begin testing its self-driving Renault Zoe electric vehicle before the end of the year in the Raymond L Flynn Marine Park in the Seaport section of the city.
nuTonomy outfits its vehicles with a state-of-the art software system, which has been integrated with high-performance sensing and computing components, to enable safe operation without a driver. [Read more…] about nuTonomy to test its self-driving cars on public roads in Boston
Connected cars: A massive new market for chipmakers
The Benz Patent Motorwagen, invented by Carl Benz in the 1880s, is regarded as the first motor car ever made.
It was a purely a mechanical machine with no electronics.
It wasn’t until the 1930s that electronics started playing a part in cars, which had become much more complex and more powerful since the original motorwagen.
And electronics have played an increasingly large role ever since. [Read more…] about Connected cars: A massive new market for chipmakers
Opinion: ‘How data science and machine learning will save lives on the roads’
By Sundeep Sanhavi, CEO of Data RPM, who claims data science and machine learning will save lives in this exclusive article for Robotics and Automation News
Recalls happen all too frequently, often as a result of some horrendous accident or incident. But there are ways in which the predictive qualities of data science and machine learning can relegate recalls to the annals of history.
“A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph,” explains the Narrator in the film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club.
“The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one.”
Edward Norton’s chilling performance aside, vehicle recalls are a persistent problem. Their persistence – given the increasing availability of improved technology and insight – is baffling. [Read more…] about Opinion: ‘How data science and machine learning will save lives on the roads’
Nissan autonomous tech boss reveals philosophy behind automaker’s approach
Nissan says it is taking “a step-by-step approach in introducing autonomous driving technologies to market”.
The company has been relatively quiet of late on its developments but is now revealing more about its philosophy.
Nissan says that to see the autonomous driving fully integrate into daily life, solving the many technological challenges as well as societal acceptance are key. [Read more…] about Nissan autonomous tech boss reveals philosophy behind automaker’s approach
Audi to test new autonomous driving technology
German automaker calls its autonomous technology “piloted driving”
Twelve months after the launch of the “Digital Motorway Test Bed”, Audi has presented new technologies for what it calls “piloted driving” and connected cars at the German Federal Ministry of Transport.
The connected car aspect of the presentation will deal with car-to-x technology, with the “x” denoting anything – other vehicles and infrastructure, for example.
Audi says it will concentrate on “online variable message” road signs and infrastructure measures. One of the more difficult problems for autonomous car developers is teaching machines how to tell the difference between traffic lights and other lights, for example. [Read more…] about Audi to test new autonomous driving technology
Qualcomm could become king of the road if it buys NXP
Mergers and acquisitions happen quite frequently these days, and there’s a lot of interest surrounding them.
For example, there are currently strong rumours that US smartphone chip giant Qualcomm is about to buy NXP Semiconductor for $40 billion.
NXP itself last year bought Freescale for $12 billion. The deal gave NXP access to the market for micro-controllers, in which Freescale is one of the leading companies.
And in a separate, similarly large deal, Japanese communications colossus SoftBank recently agreed to buy the British chip designer ARM for $32 billion. [Read more…] about Qualcomm could become king of the road if it buys NXP
Electric cars: Germany to ban petrol engines from 2030
Some say the traditional petrol-driven internal combustion engine is on the way out.
It would seem inevitable, given that the alternative – the electric engine – is less harmful to the environment at the point of use.
The implications of the rise of the electric engine for the global oil business is beyond the scope of this article, but oil will probably continue to be important going forward because of its role in powering so many other sectors of industry.
But as far as the demands on the oil industry that road-going vehicles will make, it seems there is a definite downward trend emerging.
Perhaps the most significant recent development is the German government’s decision to ban the combustion engine effective 2030. [Read more…] about Electric cars: Germany to ban petrol engines from 2030
Bright Box launches self-driving car platform trained with extreme driving in computer games
Bright Box, a specialist provider of connected car solutions, says its new self-driving car system has been trained using a neural network, deep learning and extreme racing computer games, in particular GTA 5.
Bright Box, a European company, says its software is the basis for connected-vehicle applications used by the Nissan Smart Car app in Middle East, and KIA Remoto app.
Bright Box says its autonomous car solution also uses data from real-life examples. [Read more…] about Bright Box launches self-driving car platform trained with extreme driving in computer games
Volvo and Autoliv to create joint venture to develop autonomous driving technology
Autoliv, a provider of advanced driver assistance systems, and Volvo Cars, the car maker, have agreed to form a new jointly-owned company to develop next generation autonomous driving software.
The planned new company will have its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, and an initial workforce taken from both companies of around 200, increasing to over 600 in the medium term. The company is expected to start operations in early 2017.
Once finalized, the joint venture will be a new entrant in the growing global market for autonomous driving software systems. It will mark the first time a leading premium car maker has joined forces with a tier one supplier to develop new advanced driver assist systems and autonomous driving technologies. [Read more…] about Volvo and Autoliv to create joint venture to develop autonomous driving technology