Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is joining forces with Florida Polytechnic University to advance the safety of autonomous airborne systems.
Through a memorandum of understanding, the universities will collaborate on the advancement of the research and application of “cutting-edge” autonomous technology.
“Embry-Riddle is excited to combine our strength in airborne autonomous systems with the Florida Polytechnic Advanced Mobility Institute’s expertise in verifying and validating new autonomous technologies,” says Embry-Riddle’s Associate Provost for Research Dr. Remzi Seker.
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous Vehicles
EHang conducts first U.S. trial flight of autonomous aerial vehicle in North Carolina
As part of the North Carolina Transportation Summit, EHang conducted its first-ever U.S. trial flight of the EHang 216, which is the company’s two-seater passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV).
Conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the trial flight was the first time that the EHang 216 has received flight approval from the FAA. The trial flight was a non-passenger flight, but EHang says that it is working with the FAA to secure approval for a passenger trial flight of the EHang 216 “in the near future.”
“We are proud to have the first autonomous aerial vehicle flying in North America, in North Carolina,” says North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
FLIR Systems, ANSYS partner to enhance safety for assisted driving and autonomous vehicles
With a goal of giving automakers the ability to deliver “unprecedented vehicle safety,” FLIR Systems Inc. has partnered with ANSYS to deliver “superior hazard detection capabilities” for assisted driving and autonomous vehicles (AVs).
FLIR says that it will equip ANSYS’ leading-edge driving simulator with a fully physics-based thermal sensor to facilitate the modeling, testing and validation of thermal camera designs within an “ultra-realistic virtual world.”
By optimizing thermal camera placement for use with various tools such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection, and within future AVs, the new platform is expected to reduce the development time of original equipment manufacturers, the companies say.
Xpeng Motors equips autonomous vehicles with RTI's Connext DDS connectivity framework
Real-Time Innovations (RTI) has announced that its Connext DDS has been selected as the connectivity framework by smart mobility and electric vehicle (EV) company Xpeng Motors for its latest production model, the Xpeng P7 intelligent electric sedan.
RTI says that Xpeng Motors will be able to offer “highly reliable, robust and advanced” autonomous driving systems in its second generation electric vehicles using RTI Technology.
Starting Q2 of 2020, Xpeng Motors will begin delivering its P7 vehicles to customers, and in the process will become the first Chinese company to use Connext DDS in the production models of autonomous vehicles.
Plus.ai completes coast-to-coast commercial freight run with autonomous truck in less than three days
Self-driving truck technology company Plus.ai has announced that it successfully completed the first coast-to-coast commercial freight run with an autonomous truck on behalf of Land O’Lakes Inc.
Considered the first L4 U.S. cross-country commercial pilot, the hub-to-hub trip covered 2,800 miles from Tulare, California to Quakertown, Pennsylvania in less than three days, hauling a fully-loaded refrigerated trailer of perishable cargo.
EasyMile's autonomous vehicle on Karragarra Island the first ever driverless service to connect with a public ferry terminal
EasyMile has announced that its autonomous vehicle on Karragarra Island in Queensland is the first-ever driverless service to connect with a public ferry terminal.
This announcement comes just months after Australia's Redland City Council and Queensland, Australia's peak motoring body, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), announced Karragarra Island on Redlands Coast as the first location in Queensland to test a driverless bus.
Waymo marks one year since launching public self-driving ride-hailing service
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 marked a year since Waymo launched its public self-driving ride-hailing service, Waymo One, in the Metro Phoenix area.
“We now have thousands of people using it in their everyday lives across the Metro Phoenix area and have enjoyed seeing how they rely on the Waymo Driver to get them where they need to be, whether that’s work, the grocery store, or a fun night out,” Waymo says.
Coca-Cola European Partners to use Einride's autonomous vehicle to transport goods in Sweden
To expand in digitalized distribution in its Swedish distribution network, Coca-Cola European Partners will begin using Einride’s autonomous, electric transport system with the launch of a commercial pilot at its facility in Jordbro outside Stockholm.
Through the pilot, Einride’s autonomous vehicle, known as the Einride Pod, will be introduced into a real transportation flow, and will be used to transport goods from Coca-Cola European Partners’ warehouse to food retailer Axfood’s warehouse in the same area.
Apex.AI, a developer of autonomous driving software, announces new investors
Autonomous driving software developer Apex.AI has announced its newest investors, which include Volvo Group Venture Capital, HELLA Ventures, and Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital arm InMotion Ventures.
Volvo Group and Jaguar Land Rover are both well established automotive manufacturers, while HELLA is an international supplier of automotive electronics and lighting.
“We are eager to leverage their deep expertise in the mobility industry to move Apex.AI forward,” says Apex.AI co-founder Jan Becker.
May Mobility to use latest funding for hiring, expanding vehicle fleet
Autonomous Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) provider May Mobility has announced that it has closed a $50 million Series B round.
Toyota Motor Corporation led the Series B round, and the automotive manufacturer has also selected May Mobility as one of its partners in the autonomous TaaS segment for future open mobility platforms.
To date, May Mobility has raised a total of $84 million. This latest funding round will be used for strategic hires across the engineering and operations functions, as well as to expand the company’s vehicle fleet to meet growing demand.
