Industry News
Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot to launch in select US states
Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will launch a production-ready version of its Drive Pilot automated driving system in the USA before the end of 2023.
Initially it will use a limited fleet of SAE Level 3-equipped Mercedes EQS electric sedans which it is calling Drive Pilot: First Class. These will then be joined by more EQS and S-Class sedan models in 2024 for the program which will be run in the states of California and Nevada. These are the first two states to approve the system and issue certification for use on major freeways. While the regulatory framework varies by state, the auto maker says it intends to further expand availability of the technology to additional US markets in the future.
Aurrigo and UPS announce autonomous electric cargo vehicle pilot at East Midlands Airport
UPS and Aurrigo have announced a collaborative project to deploy Auto-Cargo, an autonomous electric vehicle designed to move heavy cargo loads to and from aircraft, at the UPS hub at East Midlands Airport in the UK.
The vehicle can transport a standard full-size cargo pallet or two half-size aviation industry standard containers or unit load devices (ULD) up to a total load of 7.5 metric tons, and is designed to tow a further fully loaded cargo trailer behind it. Its autonomous technology will enable the limited numbers of security-cleared drivers to be freed up to perform other roles around the airport, while also producing zero tailpipe emissions.
Nissan-backed EvolvAD autonomous mobility research project launches
It has been 35 years since the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) opened in the UK. Initially it was a small outbuilding on the company’s production site in Sunderland, but after moving to a facility in Cranfield the NTCE has expanded to become one of Nissan’s major global R&D facilities with 1,000 employees.
One of the focus areas at the site is autonomous driving and following the company’s initial involvement in the HumanDrive and ServCity projects, the latest to use its battery-electric Leaf is EvolvAD.
With funding from the UK government through its Innovate UK agency and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), the EvolvAD project is being run by a consortium of industry partners.
LUKAS research project reports ways connectivity can make city traffic safer and more efficient
The mobility sector is facing the challenges of digital transformation, increasing urbanization and automation, as well as the need for greater energy efficiency and climate action. The LUKAS research project – carried out by Bosch, InMach, IT-Designers, Mercedes-Benz, Nokia, Ulm University and the University of Duisburg-Essen – investigated how to improve traffic efficiency and safety in future mixed traffic scenarios in urban traffic environments, and the results of this three-year project have now been presented.
LUKAS is the abbreviation of the German name “Lokales Umfeldmodell für das kooperative, automatisierte Fahren in komplexen Verkehrssituationen” (local environment model for cooperative automated driving in complex traffic situations).
Point One Navigation launches GraphQL API
California-based Point One Navigation has launched the GraphQL application program interface for GNSS-powered devices. The company says its latest innovation is able to simplify development and eliminate the need for vendor libraries, intermediate data stores or working with convoluted networks of representation state transfer (REST) endpoints. Developers building RTK-enabled products will be able to use it to integrate precise location into their products and services.
“We’ve seen the adoption of precision location being held back by the lack of straightforward APIs for integration, credential provisioning and management,” said Aaron Nathan, Point One Navigation CEO. “As a developer-focused company, we are excited to launch an API that vastly simplifies both integration and operations for RTK-enabled products.
Driving the future: Nexcom’s AI-powered in-vehicle computers transform urban mobility
As cities strive to combat traffic congestion, enhance public safety and reduce pollution, a remarkable transformation has taken place within the public transportation sector — integration of AI-powered in-vehicle computers. Nexcom is at the forefront of this revolution, and is excited to introduce its latest innovation: the VTC 7270-C8, a game-changer that is enabling bus services to deliver a safer, more efficient and enhanced driving experience.
Safety imperative: Elevating public transportation safety
Safety is the paramount concern in public transportation. Buses, often navigating congested urban environments, demand advanced systems to mitigate accidents and protect passengers, pedestrians and other road users.
EXPO NEWS | Day 2: New lidar scanner addresses critical bottleneck in lidar technology
On Day 2 of the ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo Conference, Eric Aguilar, co-founder and CEO of Omnitron Sensors, took to the stage for his presentation, ‘Fix the optical subsystem, fix lidar’, during the session ‘Sensor test, development, fusion, calibration and data’.
Speaking to ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International during the conference, he revealed, “We are introducing a new lidar scanner to the market that brings a significant reduction in size, cost and complexity compared with existing lidar systems. This addresses a critical bottleneck in lidar technology, making it as ubiquitous as cameras are today.”
“One of the primary challenges with optical subsystems in lidar is reliability,” Eric explained.
EXPO NEWS | Day 2: 3DAI City – AI-generated live maps transforming urban and highway management
Univrses is showcasing 3DAI City at ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo California, which the company says introduces a new paradigm in urban and highway management.
Due to a growing population and ongoing urbanization, there is increasing demand for more efficient monitoring and maintenance of road networks across the globe. Simply by mounting a camera in the windshield of a moving vehicle, the AI software can generate real-time data on features such as road quality, traffic density, incorrectly parked vehicles and the condition of road assets. The gathered data is accessed through a scalable 3DAI City live map that enables businesses, municipalities and authorities to optimize their operations and take immediate action to save time, money and lives.