Ford has announced its acquisition of a Saline, Michigan-based company called Quantum Signal that works on mobile robotics for a number of different clients, including the military.
With a mindset towards further advancing its goal of launching a self-driving vehicle business, Ford says that it plans on leveraging Quantum Signal’s “extensive experience” in real-time simulation and algorithm development to develop its Transportation as a Service (TaaS) platform, as well as vehicle controls that support the customer experience, functional safety and other vehicle systems.
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous Vehicles
ThayerMahan awarded $19.4 million contract to develop innovative autonomous systems
ThayerMahan Inc., a developer of autonomous maritime platforms, has been awarded a four-year, $19.4 million contract to develop innovative autonomous systems, and improve its proprietary acoustic and electronic search systems, in support of Navy and Marine Corps missions.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded ThayerMahan the contract as part of its continuing effort to promote the development and deployment of Unmanned Maritime Systems in support of US Navy missions.
Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners opens autonomous vehicle and smart city living laboratory
Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners has announced the grand opening of its 5G enabled autonomous vehicle and smart city living laboratory.
A publicly funded, real-world living laboratory and testbed, Curiosity Lab features a one and a half mile autonomous vehicle test track within a 500 acre commercial office park.
“Startups and mature companies around the world are interested in using the Lab’s test track to better understand how their technology operates in a suburban community with people working and living around them,” says Brian Johnson, city manager for Peachtree Corners.
Regulators seeking to promote the AV industry while boosting safety
U.S. regulators are seeking to promote autonomous vehicle technology without picking favorites and with over-regulating the nascent industry, federal and state officials told attendees at the Automated Vehicles Symposium in Orlando.
"There is widespread recognition that automated vehicles will coexist with conventional vehicles and ad some point operate side-by-side with them on the highways," said Nicole Nason, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), who spoke on Wednesday.
"And to this point, I want to affirm the department's position this morning regarding freedom of the open road. We want to protect the freedom of all Americans to make mobility choices that best serve their needs."
Speakers kick off AVS 2019 with emphasis on automated vehicle safety
The 2019 Automated Vehicles Symposium kicked off on Tuesday with a focus on safety, as speakers from across the industry — and the world — addressed how their companies are building safe self-driving vehicles and working to educate the public about the technology.
Chris Urmson, cofounder and CEO of automated vehicle technology company Aurora, was the first keynote speaker and described how the industry has progressed during his time in it. In the early and mid 2000s he was part of the Carnegie Mellon team competing in DARPA's robotic road races, where his vehicle sometimes found itself upside down.
H-E-B, Udelv launching pilot program to test deliveries via autonomous vehicle
In partnership with Udelv, San Antonio-based supermarket company H-E-B has announced plans to launch a pilot program later this year to test a delivery service that uses an autonomous vehicle.
H-E-B will use an autonomous van from Udelv to serve customers near its Olmos Park H-E-B, which is just north of downtown San Antonio.
“At H-E-B, we continue to evaluate and utilize innovative technologies in all parts of our business,” says Paul Tepfenhart, senior vice president of Omnichannel and Emerging Technologies at Central Market and H-E-B.
Driverless shuttle unveiled in Newcastle, Australia
The city of Newcastle, Australia has unveiled its new driverless shuttle.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes revealed the vehicle for the first time at Keolis Downer’s Hamilton depot. Exhaustive safety testing will soon begin at this location, and once testing is complete, passengers will be able to experience the vehicle along the harbour foreshore.
“This is a major milestone for the city’s smart city journey, and I look forward to working with Transport for NSW and partners Keolis Downer on this unique opportunity to make the future of automated transport in Newcastle a reality as we transform the city into a living lab,” Councillor Nelmes says.
Autonomous shuttle begins pilot phase in Crozet, Virginia
The pilot phase of Virginia's first public autonomous shuttle service has begun in Crozet, Virginia, according to Perrone Robotics Inc., JAUNT Inc., and Albemarle County, Virginia.
Known as Autonomous Vehicle, Neighborhood Use (AVNU), the shuttle service features a Polaris GEM vehicle equipped with Perrone Robotics' TO Navigate You (TONY) autonomous shuttle technology.
Equipped with perception and guidance capabilities, the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) shuttle will have a safety driver onboard, but it will operate fully autonomously as it drives through county neighborhoods and downtown areas on public roads, navigating vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
