Their joint venture will initially commence small-scale deliveries of the L4 truck in 2022 and 2023. Following this rollout, both companies expect mass production to begin in 2024 – targeting an annual production capacity of around 10,000 trucks in the following years.

A prototype developed by the JV was built on SANY’s EV truck platform, and has already conducted road testing. As the new company develops, its autonomous truck product portfolio will provide a mix of both new energy and fuel-based vehicles, with the aim to increase the proportion of new energy trucks in the future.

The announcement follows the formation of Cyantron, a joint venture between Pony.ai and Sinotrans created to help enhance the digitalization and intelligence of vehicle transportation.

In differentiating the user experience of the Apollo RT6 against previous generations, Baidu equipped it with a number of user-centric features. Inside the vehicle, for example, is a detachable steering wheel that provides additional space through which extra seating, vending machines, desktops, or gaming consoles can be installed.

The core experience of the Apollo RT6 is rooted in its autonomous driving capabilities. Here, an advanced L4 system is powered by a pair of CPUs that allow it to process up to 1200 trillion operations per second. This power is used to process data sent from the vehicle’s suite of 38 sensors, including 8 LiDARs and 12 cameras, which work to obtain accurate, long-range detection around the vehicle.

While these sensors allow the RT6 to drive autonomously, a supervisor will be present at all times inside the vehicle in the event that its operations need to be handed back to a human driver. When testing the RT6, Baidu collected large datasets – amounting to a total test mileage of more than 20 million miles (32 million kilometers) – to ensure it operated safely and reliably at launch.

Upon its rollout, the Apollo RT6 will be the first vehicle built on Xinghe, Baidu’s dedicated E/E architecture for fully autonomous driving. This rollout will commence in 2023, when the AV begins its robotaxi operations in China on Apollo Go – the company’s autonomous ride-hailing service. From then, it expects its fleet of RT6 vehicles to grow from 10,000 units to 100,000 units in the next few years. This growing fleet will then work to support Apollo Go’s goal to expand its service operations to 100 cities before 2030.

Announced at MOVE 2022, held at London’s Excel 15-16 June, The AV-OS platform will leverage billions of daily data points from millions of connected vehicles, including AV data, to generate AV outcomes.

Interpreted and analyzed by Wejo’s Smart Mobility intelligence offerings, the platform will unlock never-before-seen insights for any AV developers supporting the rapid acceleration of AV testing, carried out safely in a virtual simulation environment.

Democratizing access to data, the world-first of its kind AV-OS platform will remove the silos of traditional development processes that AV OEMs must go through, enabling rapid innovation.

Turning the raw connected vehicle data into meaningful and actionable insights, Wejo helps developers better understand vehicles, journeys, roads, and locations to create safer and more environmentally-friendly driving experiences.

By organizing billions of data points from millions of connected vehicles and partnering with global automotive manufacturers to stream real-time data at scale and speed, Wejo’s AV-OS platform will bring about a step-change in AV innovation and development efficiencies, as its capabilities will support:

• Simulation and modeling:

– Using connected vehicle data to inform AV model development
– Providing real-world data and intelligence about automated and non-automated (human) driving
– Removing silos and supporting the development, testing and operating AVs through live visualizations, without the need to have a physical AV on the road
– Supporting the development, testing and operation of AVs

• Anticipating the road ahead:

– Providing AV OEMs and developers with intelligence about longer-range conditions across traffic, roadways, and environments in a live 3D environment, instead of learning from yesterday’s data
– Growing connected vehicle and autonomous vehicle data (e.g., lidar & camera outputs)
– Edge & distributed infrastructure to reduce latency barriers

• Creating a Common Language for Standardization:

– Developing vehicle and road network digital twins that represent a common language for AVs
– Including vehicle status and dynamics, plus intended movements (lane changes/exits)
– Going beyond map data

• Safer Roads:

– Understanding the pattern of traffic and driving behaviors to allow for better planning and a smarter, faster AV reality

For the pilot service, the Group has obtained a temporary autonomous driving operation permit from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The OEM will collaborate with Jin Mobility, a Korean start-up operating i.M, an AI-powered car-hailing mobility platform. The start-up will be in charge of operating the two IONIQ 5 RoboRide units on its i.M application. Hyundai also plans to expand the pilot service, while further developing autonomous driving technology with consideration for various conditions, such as driving stability. 

Through this pilot, the Group is looking to collect valuable autonomous driving data. Likewise, it plans to further develop the L4 technology trialed within it to navigate safely and flexibly in complicated urban environments. To prepare for such a complicated driving environment, the Group worked with Seoul Metropolitan Government to establish a system that can connect traffic signals with its autonomous vehicles. Since 2018, it has also gathered copious driving data by testing autonomous driving in the Gangnam area.

The Group will also leverage an in-house developed remote vehicle assist system to ensure safety. The system monitors autonomous driving status, vehicle and route, supporting the trip with remote assist functions, such as changing the lane under circumstances where autonomous driving is not feasible. Based on the autonomous technology used in the pilot, a RoboRide vehicle will perceive, make decisions, and control its own driving status, while its safety driver will only intervene under limited conditions.

The RoboRide pilot service will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, to minimize any possible inconveniences on the road. Up to three passengers can partake in a ride, whereas a safety driver will always be present in the vehicle to respond to any emergencies. The Group plans to operate an initial demonstration service for internally selected personnel, and then expand the pilot service targets to general customers in the future.

To commemorate the pilot service, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea, and Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul City, became the first customers to test drive the RoboRide vehicle.

Highlights pointed out by the OEM include an active deformable structure design, a 3D borderless one-piece screen, zero-gravity seating, and dual max-computing chips. The ROBO-01’s capabilities are based on a unique trainable functionality and JIDUs’ neural JET (JIDU Evolving Technology) – both support a high-level autonomous driving solution with full redundancy, SOA-based intelligent cabin and millisecond-level offline intelligent voice assistant.

Inside, the borderless, ultra-clear, screen has been designed to run from the driving seat to the main passenger seat and provide an immersive audiovisual user experience. In addition, physical controls like the door handle, shift lever, left and right indicator levers are removed to further evolve and streamline the core HMI experience. The zero-gravity seats are lightweight and breathable, wrap around the occupant, and include a swan neck headrest design with an adaptive adjustment function to ensure user comfort.

Further systems equipped in the intelligent cabin are an offline voice assistant, millisecond-level response, 3D human-machine co-driving map and full-scene interaction inside and outside the car. This cockpit is enabled by the 4th generation Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform. Based on the technology firm’s 8295 chip, it facilitates the 3D presentation of the central display, enabling efficient in-vehicle operations spanning navigation, entertainment, online office, and more.

Inside and outside the ROBO-01, the cabin’s millisecond-level intelligent voice response provides 100% coverage of scenarios, while the offline voice function operates independently of online network signals. Its multi-modal interaction capabilities, such as visual perception, voice recognition and lip capture, allow for added convenience and bolstered communications between the user and car.

A focal point of ROBO-01 is its enhanced AI perception and expanded active service capabilities. Here, it is equipped with a set of fully adjustable structures – including front hood collapsible LiDAR, active rear wing ROBOWing, a foldable U-shaped steering wheel, satellite speakers that can be lifted, and an adaptive zero-gravity seat.

The collapsible LiDAR works to enhances the safety of the EV’s intelligent driving system while strengthening the sensing capabilities of its advanced autonomous driving functions. The sensor can collapse, for example, before a crash occurs – with the AI detecting the incident before it happens.

The U-shaped steering wheel helps users access more information provided on the vehicle’s screen. Likewise, the leading steering-by-wire technology of JIDU can support the U-shaped steering wheel to be folded and hidden as needed, as well as enhance the variable steering ratio of the vehicle in automatic driving mode.

Through biometric technologies, ROBO-01 can recognize the user’s emotions and interact with the outside world. Its robotized front design integrates interactive AI pixel headlights and a high-recognition-rate AI voice interaction system. With the system, a voice recognition function is enabled outside the car for natural communication between humans, the vehicle, and the surrounding environment.

In working with Baidu, JIDU confirmed that the Baidu Apollo’s autonomous driving capabilities were extensively applied to its own Robotaxi. In testing, 27 million kilometers (16.7 million miles) were driven autonomously while a large Robotaxi road test fleet conducted real road tests in more than 30 cities across China to help the system operate in urban areas.

Further autonomous support comes from Nvidia’s “dual” Orin X chips and 31 external sensors. This sensor suite includes 2 LiDAR, 5 millimeter-level wave radar, 12 ultrasonic radar and 12 cameras. Based on JIDU’s cabin-driving fusion technology architecture, the true redundancy solution for autonomous driving is created by its use of dual systems to ensure and maximize redundancy. The solution has been successfully tested and run on the JIDU SIMUCar, a software-integrated simulation vehicle. The company has said that these tests verified the safety and stability of its autonomous driving system for mass production.

Capable of point-to-point advanced autonomous driving, the system is also able to adapt to three main driving scenarios: high-speed, urban roads, and parking. It has tested and verified the ability to handle unprotected left turns, traffic light recognition, obstacle avoidance and freeway on/off ramps. Users will be able to access these and other autonomous functions upon starting the vehicle.

JIDU plans to launch a limited version of its first production model in Fall 2022, which will closely resemble the ROBO-01. A production window and release date for the ROBO-01 itself has not yet been confirmed.

The ViLS allows automotive engineers to perform a wide variety of vehicle, environmental, and road testing under real-world conditions but in a more cost-effective and safer lab-controlled setting. In particular, the TOYO ViLS supports the CASE paradigm which refers to the new automotive technology fields of Connected cars, Autonomous/Automated driving, Shared, and Electric.

These areas define the future of transportation and are enthusiastically supported by the automotive industry. The TOYO ViLS is designed from the ground up. The company integrates best-in-class comprehensive components into the solution. Among them are Rototest Energy chassis dynamometers, Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and True Sim, a professional-grade driving simulator co-developed by TOYO and Iwane that features augmented reality functionality.

After a multi-month technical assessment of the ViLS with one of the automaker’s EVs, they established that the ViLS met both their current and evolving needs. In particular, they needed dynamometers capable of coping with the high-torque forces generated by EVs and observed that the Rototest system met this stringent requirement. They moved forward and submitted an order for two complete ViLS systems. The order is the largest one ever secured by TOYO for the ViLS with a valuation in the multi-millions of dollars. The customer worked closely with TOYO’s U.S. subsidiary TOYOTech through all phases of the procurement cycle. And delivery and deployment of the platforms are expected to occur before the end of the year.

Some key advantages of the TOYO solution include:

• Portable and short setup time (15 to 20 minutes per hub)
• Supports high-torque force
• 4-wheel independent control dynamometer system requiring only a flat surface and power
• Allows for steering control and feedback during a running test
• Uses a low-inertia drive motor unit
• Allows for a quick acceleration test by eliminating tires
• Allows for a 4-quadrant test (forward, reverse, power running, and regeneration)
• Allows for a running resistance test, also simulating hill conditions
• Available in different variations covering from single-axle (2WD) vehicles to dual-axle (4WD) vehicles
• Available in application-specific models such as a low-noise model for the NVH test (45dBA or less at 62mph/100kmh) and an environment test model (covering down to -95 °F/35°C)
• Allows for system customization with different options, such as:
• A blower that generates headwinds according to the simulated running speed
• Interface to link external control systems such as a driving simulator or hardware-in-the-loop simulator

The automaker’s key test requirements for the TOYO ViLS include support for:

• Advanced driver assistance system software modules
• High torque force tests
• Acceleration tests
• Adaptive cruise control tests
• Steering control and feedback tests
• Emergency and regenerative braking tests

The partnership expands Lightning’s zero-emissions EV platform offerings to include Perrone’s AV-powered technology, TONY®, a vehicle-independent retrofit kit designed to enable vehicles to transport people and goods in geo-fenced and dedicated driving routes. Vehicles equipped with Perrone’s self-driving technology embedded into Lightning’s vehicles for both cargo and passenger uses can be ordered immediately.

PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation, is the first Lightning eMotors customer to purchase a self-driving, all-electric shuttle powered by Perrone’s TONY AV kit. Pennsylvania’s first AV shuttle will provide transportation services to visitors and employees within the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a 1,200-acre dynamic, urban development centrally located in the popular waterfront business campus. Lightning and Perrone are in active discussions with a number of other potential customers as well.

Perrone is a leading provider of AV technology and turnkey vehicle solutions. The company holds a Pioneer Patent for its “MAX” general purpose robotics operating system, which is the backbone of its TONY solution. Together with MAX, TONY is one of the most flexible and adaptable AV solutions available in the current market. Perrone’s AV retrofit kit can be integrated into new vehicles and can also be integrated into existing, repowered vehicles.

Initially, Lightning will deploy Perrone’s technology into two product categories, including fully autonomous Level 4 application environments with dedicated routes such as college campuses, and Level 2 applications for high-end visual and safety features for commercial vehicles. Currently, Level 4 vehicles can only operate in geo-fenced areas, but demand for this use is rising as campuses, logistics yards, downtown business districts, resorts, and other organizations and municipalities seek EV/AV solutions.

Level 2 autonomous vehicles are also seeing rising demand, especially for transit vehicle operators, who can benefit from the state-of-the-art safety features, including lane-keeping capability, adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance. All of these features are now available among Lightning’s platform offerings and will be powered by lidar technology, fused with radar to add an additional layer of redundancy that’s important for all Lightning applications.

Tomorrow’s vehicles will be operating in an increasingly digital environment. Software-driven areas such as ADAS/AD, infotainment and connected functions will be key differentiators in the user experience. Software upgrades and a constant flow of data between vehicles, infrastructure, people, and the cloud backend, are highly complex and thus have significant impact on how modern vehicles are developed today. They also directly impact customer needs and the pace of development. This approach allows the company to bridge the gap between the vehicle and ITC – information technology and communications – and deliver state-of-the-art connected solutions with an end-to-end view of the data pipelines from the vehicle to the backend.

FEV.io’s structure provides an agile and quickly adaptable working model for its customers around the world. It is represented as a new brand in FEV’s regional organizations worldwide and additionally established as a separate legal entity, FEV.io GmbH, located close to the Group’s German headquarters in Aachen. Should a customer also require support in energy and mobility system engineering, or even complete vehicle development, the newly founded brand will work closely with the FEV Group to offer all solutions “from a single source” at more than 40 global locations.

In addition, FEV.io will continuously strengthen its expertise with input from the consumer electronics, cloud, and automotive industries; and collaborate in the IT arena with market leaders such as Wipro.

Among FEV.IO’S range of services is Systems Engineering – which will enable it to describe digital representations of real systems for its customers in a model-based manner. On this basis, dependencies are identified, and test scenarios are derived, enabling cost-efficient and fast product cycles.

Functional Safety & Cyber Security is structured in accordance with all industry standards for connected, automated and electrified vehicles. FEV.io accompanies and leads customers through all development steps.

Connected mobility will offer a unique user experience in the future. The provision and connection of vehicle data allows mobility to become safer and more convenient. FEV.io develops corresponding ecosystems where cross-domain competence is crucial.

ADAS/AD systems interact with all areas of the vehicle, such as steering, brakes, powertrain and infotainment. At the same time, they also interact with intelligent infrastructure and digital maps. FEV.io supports its customers in mastering this complexity.

Infotainment: A seamless and holistic human-machine interface (HMI) is a key differentiator for vehicles today. Therefore, the development of cutting-edge display solutions and creative interaction technologies is one of the most important areas of innovation. These systems must enable convenient and effective communication between passengers and the vehicle while ensuring safe operation. FEV.io verifies efficient development and integration into the entire vehicle.

SW & EE platforms: Buyers are increasingly opting for a vehicle that is online, seamlessly connects to the user’s digital world, and delivers a premium digital experience. To achieve this, hundreds of millions of lines of code, ECUs and electronic components need to be integrated into scalable platforms. This is where FEV.io provides high-quality and robust solutions through its cross-domain system expertise and global presence.

SW and EE integration: Future vehicles will have extensive functions for assisted and automated driving, enabled by connectivity and a growing proportion of software and complex algorithms. Greater functionality means, above all, greater complexity and responsibility. Automotive software must be maintainable, updatable, and diagnosable in the context of SW and EE integration. FEV.io enables this while embedding it in a powerful, reliable E/E architecture.

With these permits issued by the head office of the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), ten autonomous vehicles without drivers behind the steering wheel will offer rides to passengers in a designated area of 60 square kilometers in Beijing. These licensed cars will join an existing fleet provided by Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, in the capital city of China. Starting April 28, 2022, users will be able to hail a driverless ride using the Apollo Go mobile app in daytime from 10:00 to 16:00.

Currently, Baidu has the largest autonomous driving fleet in China. In expanding its driverless vehicle services, Baidu has worked to meet the unique technical challenges of Beijing’s complex traffic environment. The company plans to add 30 more such vehicles at a later stage, expanding its fleet to provide more convenient driverless services to the public.

The new permit represents Beijing’s collaborative and safety-first approach to autonomous vehicle regulation, progressing from the manned autonomous driving stage to the driverless stage. It also represents a benchmark regulation for the global autonomous vehicle industry, given the complexity and high density of urban traffic in Beijing.

Baidu’s success in securing this regulatory permission can be attributed to its strong foundation in AI and its leading test-drive mileage. Baidu has a proven track record of over 27 million kilometers (16 million miles) of road testing accumulated in the past 9 years with zero traffic accidents, including mileage recorded by driverless test cars in multiple cities across China as well as in California.

The current Board includes Ford, Volvo and Waymo, and the broader Coalition brings together a wide variety of top AV companies including Argo AI, Cruise, Kodiak, Lyft, Motional, Nuro, Uber, TuSimple and Zoox.

“As two of the top companies advancing the broad spectrum of use cases for autonomous driving technology, the addition of Embark and Aurora to the Board signifies the Coalition’s continued commitment to fully realize the wide range of safety, mobility, and economic benefits AVs have to offer,” said Board Chair David Quinalty. 

“Aurora and Embark have exemplary track records in working with federal, state and local stakeholders to implement AV policy solutions that will bring safety and societal benefits to the public,” said Ariel Wolf, general counsel to the Coalition. “Their addition to the Board will enhance our efforts to turn self-driving technology’s transformative potential into a reality for the American people.”

“Delivering the benefits of self-driving safely, quickly, and broadly has been Aurora’s mission since we started building the Aurora Driver,” said Melissa Froelich, Director of Government Relations at Aurora. “We’re looking forward to being on the Coalition’s Board as we advocate for self-driving technology that will save lives, increase access to transportation, and ensure goods are delivered quickly and efficiently.”

“Autonomous trucks offer an opportunity to dramatically improve safety, grow the U.S. economy, improve transportation efficiency and transform how freight moves. Embark is excited to join the Board and continue to work alongside the Coalition to promote the broad deployment of autonomous trucks on American roadways,” said Jonny Morris, Head of Public Policy and Communications at Embark. 

First daily service in Israel around the Sheba Medical Center campus  

Sheba Medical Center, located in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, is a medical center in the Middle East and an internationally recognized healthcare facility. From January 2021, an Autonom Shuttle integrates with the Center’s existing Sheba Bus shuttle service to transport passengers around its campus. Part of the Smart Mobility Initiative under the Prime Minister’s Office, this pilot project is led by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the Israel Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with ST Engineering. This pilot project will be operated in collaboration with autonomous solutions startup Blue White Robotics (BWR). As part of this project, Navya is providing the autonomous driving systems as well as the electric shuttle and associated services. This is the 23^rd country in which Navya is deploying its solutions.

A complex environment for an ambitious technological challenge

The route is a loop of about 2.1 km and serves the main hospital buildings (Ophthalmology Centre, Institute of Odontology, Pediatric Centre/children’s hospital, etc.), sharing the road with existing bus lines. The route is punctuated by 7 stations and welcomes any person on the hospital site (staff, patients, visitors, etc.). The shuttle operates in a very complex environment due to the presence of very dense and varied surrounding traffic (buses, taxis, cars, bicycles, motorbikes, other small motorized and slow vehicles of all kinds, etc.). On the route, the shuttle runs close to large car parks (resulting in a rather poor Lidar environment and therefore difficult to map), passes under several bridges and in the middle of tall buildings (limited GNSS coverage), and crosses 4 roundabouts and more than 20 pedestrian crossings. These are the many challenges that are met and overcome by autonomous driving systems, whose technology is constantly evolving. Future development prospects with further opportunities in the country After this deployment, the service will be continued, and additional shuttles could join the site with potential future paths. Many other projects are under consideration in Israel, as the country is facing major transportation challenges such as heavy traffic congestion, traffic-related accidents, air pollution as well as their associated economic and health impact, public interest in autonomous shuttles is on the rise. The Ministry of Transport is promoting autonomous trials for various use cases for first/last mile.

At CES, the company is debuting DeepRoute-Engine, an inference engine that speeds up the neural network computation, allowing algorithms to run on an energy-efficient computing platform. This results in a 6x faster inference process than that of widely used open source deep learning frameworks (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch, Caffe) and is compatible with GPU of various brands, including NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD, to greatly minimize the computation needed for level 4 self-driving technology. Because of this powerful inference engine, DeepRoute’s level 4 self-driving technology can run on its 45-watt computing platform, DeepRoute-Tite, which is extremely power-efficient, consuming only 1/9 of the power, compared with traditional level 4 self-driving solutions.

View the demo video of DeepRoute-Engine on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/XaxOf-eUgio

Along with the debut of the inference engine, DeepRoute will also showcase its second-generation all-in-one sensing solution, DeepRoute-Sense II. It houses three LiDAR sensors, seven HDR cameras (DeepRoute-Vision), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a synchronization controller (DeepRoute-Syntric). This powerful combination leads to an accurate object detection range of 140m (153 yards). Notably, the compact roof-box design minimizes the additional drag to only 7%, a huge decrease from the 20% on traditional sensing solutions, allowing for low energy consumption.

DeepRoute will also highlight its cutting-edge human-like planning at CES through a video of a fully autonomous road test in Shenzhen’s heavy traffic. “We call it ‘human-like’ because rather than pre-planned paths, our vehicle adopts a real-time planning method, just like a human driver who constantly thinks about how to drive safely and efficiently. This human-like planning enables a car to smoothly pass by an unplanned construction zone and choose the fastest lane through perceived traffic dynamics,” said Nianqiu Liu.

Despite the downturn brought by COVID-19, DeepRoute has strengthened its long-term partnerships in China and hopes to resume international partnerships soon. For example, DeepRoute has been working with Dongfeng Motor to build the largest robotaxi fleet in China by 2022. This $90M project led by Dongfeng Motor will bring more than 200 robotaxis to Wuhan. In addition, DeepRoute continues to test out robotaxis with Geely-backed Cao Cao Mobility in Hangzhou, aiming to provide hundreds of robotaxis during the 2022 Asian Games.

“This comprehensive plan lays out a vision for the safe integration of automated vehicles into America’s transportation system while ensuring that legitimate concerns about safety, security, and privacy are addressed,” said Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The AVCP illustrates how the Department’s work, including myriad efforts with our stakeholders beyond government, is focused on meeting the challenges of a transportation system that must adapt to technological advancements. The AVCP provides real-world examples of how the Department’s operating administrations collaborate to address the needs of emerging technology applications.

The AVCP builds on the U.S. Government’s core principles related to automated vehicles, outlined in Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0 (AV 4.0). It also complements the Department’s earlier statements A Vision for Safety: Automated Driving Systems 2.0 (ADS 2.0) and Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0).

Development of the AVCP was informed by extensive stakeholder engagement conducted over the last several years through events (in-person and virtual) and public notices. 

The AVCP will be published in the Federal Register for public review and comment.

Today’s event featured remarks from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Finch Fulton, NHTSA Deputy Administrator James Owens, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck, Wyoming Department of Transportation Director K. Luke Reiner, and Ariel Wolf of the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets.

The information provided will help keep the public informed of the progress, advancement, and safety implications regarding the automated vehicles that participate in the program.  The portal is available on NHTSA’s website and will be updated as new information is submitted.

Now, Walmart and Gatik are taking the next step forward: Gatik’s multi-temperature Autonomous Box Trucks will operate this route driverless in the state of Arkansas. This achievement marks a new milestone that signifies the first ever driverless operation carried out on the supply chain middle mile for both Gatik and Walmart.

When Walmart and Gatik begin incorporating driverless Box Trucks into the Bentonville operation next year, the pilot will continue as it always has. But now, Walmart will be working with Gatik to monitor and gather new data to help them stay on the leading edge of driverless autonomous vehicles.

Going driverless isn’t Walmarts and Gatik’s only development, either. The partnership have tested multi-temperature Autonomous Box Trucks on a small scale in Bentonville and have learned how they might use autonomous vehicles to transfer customer orders from a dark store to a live store. Now, they are expanding the pilot with Gatik to a second location to test an even longer delivery route and a second use case – delivering items from a Supercenter to a Walmart pickup point, a designated location where customers can conveniently pick up their orders. The Autonomous Box Trucks in Louisiana will initially operate with a safety driver.

The operation will begin early next year on a 20-mile route between New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana. This unlocks the opportunity for customers who live further away from Walmart’s store in New Orleans to benefit from the convenience and ease of Walmart’s pickup service.

With 90% of Americans living within 10 miles of a Walmart, a closer store isn’t always the answer. Perhaps it’s just a pickup location, with an autonomous vehicle making deliveries on a constant loop. Walmart’s trials with Gatik are just two of many use cases Walmart are testing with autonomous vehicles.

While people’s lives have become more convenient with the growth of e-commerce and new home delivery services such as food delivery, there has been a serious shortage of home delivery staff to support such services. There is also an urgent need to address the “new normal” that includes non-face-to-face and non-contact interactions.

With this trial, Panasonic is accelerating its efforts to launch the new delivery service while working closely with the town’s residents. The company hopes to take advantage of the technology and knowhow it has acquired through the development of autonomous-driving robots and ride-sharing services offered on the company premises.

This initiative will be conducted based on Japan’s Action Plan of the Growth Strategy (July 2020), which outlines the country’s policy of conducting demonstration drives of remote monitoring/operation-type delivery robots on public roads so low-speed and compact autonomous-driving robots can be implemented in society. Panasonic participates in the public-private council to promote deliveries by autonomous-driving robots sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and part of the company’s R&D and field test activities are being supported by NEDO(New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)’s technology development project for promoting new delivery services using autonomous-driving robots.

With the simple addition of the Trimble RTX Auto software library, any new vehicle that receives SiriusXM broadcasts with a Gen8 satellite chipset can leverage a positioning solution ideal for Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), Autonomous Driving (AD) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) applications.

Since the SiriusXM hardware is already installed in most new vehicles, automotive OEMs can avoid the cost of additional hardware to receive GNSS positioning corrections. 

Trimble RTX is a trusted precise-positioning technology of choice for car manufacturers and their suppliers, and was the first solution adopted for production use in passenger vehicles. RTX technology is a critical component of General Motors’ Super Cruise system—the first hands-free driving assistance system for the highway. To date, Super Cruise and Trimble RTX have enabled over 5 million miles of hands-free driving on America’s roadways.

Ideal for automotive applications, the RTX Auto software library is Automotive Safety Integrity Level B (ASIL-B) certified and developed using the Automotive SPICE process maturity framework (Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination – ISO 15504). The RTX network operation is certified according to ISO 20000 standards, providing further peace of mind for any industry deploying safety-critical applications. No other precise positioning solution offers the same level of performance, reliability, versatility and coverage worldwide. 

Trimble RTX technology provides real-time, multi-constellation correction of GNSS observations to provide significantly more precise position estimates. Standard GPS signals can drift up to 25 feet, which could cause incorrect lane identification. When used in conjunction with high-definition maps, cameras, radar and inertial sensors, Trimble RTX provides lane-level positioning performance for semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles.

The partnership’s first service — shared robotaxi rides, available to the public — is expected to launch in one of Motional’s existing U.S. markets in the first half of 2021, expanding access to safe, affordable, and efficient transportation options. The initial launch market will be announced at a later date.

The Partnership
Via and Motional share a long-term vision to change how the world moves, and are building the digital infrastructure to help self-driving vehicles reach their full potential as part of large-scale transit networks. This requires vehicles to be on-demand, optimally routed, and shared by multiple passengers. Efficient utilization of self-driving vehicles will relieve congestion, improve environmental sustainability, and reduce operating costs for transit providers, while expanding transportation options for consumers.

The partnership will seamlessly connect Motional’s self-driving vehicles with Via technology that powers booking, routing, passenger and vehicle assignment and identification, customer experience, and fleet management.  The result will be a highly-integrated, and autonomous, shared-ride system. In addition, the rider app will feature local public transit information, encouraging connection to local transit hubs through the service.

As a neuroscientist and engineer, TED Senior Fellow Greg Gage believes autonomous vehicles and long commutes make for the perfect environment for neurotechnology to create a “brain-car” interface that allows the automobile to be integrated directly into how the driver feels. By recording a range of human signals, from human EKG to face microgestures, Gage envisions that Lexus could create a profile of a person’s mood and use it to change the ambience of the car. Sleepy? The car will change the lights and seating position. Relaxed? The car will cue up a chill playlist. Stressed? The radio is silenced and lights up. If current cars can monitor engine temperature, oil pressure and engine speed, then a human-inspired car could monitor the human and respond accordingly.

As an artist and designer, TED Senior Fellow Sarah Sandman foresees a future where people are even more buried in their digital devices, and the simple gesture of waving to a pedestrian is lost. With community in mind, Sandman has envisioned a vehicle that connects the inside to the outside world with 360-windows, fully rotational seats, a speaker system for interaction with cyclists or pedestrians, and even a chalk-writing system to leave custom art or messages in the street. To increase quality time with passengers, the interior would mimic a cozy cafe with a digital fireplace, pillows and a terrarium-like ceiling. Sandman also proposes a cooperative ownership model that increases affordability and makes for a more inclusive, meaningful future.

The fleet was paused earlier this year due to COVID-19.  Now, with the addition of enhanced protective measures, the service is again operational.