Tech company Yandex and automotive components manufacturer Hyundai Mobis have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop control systems for Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles, by combining Yandex’s self-driving technologies with Hyundai Mobis’ experience in the automotive industry.
The agreement also provides the potential for the companies to expand into other areas of cooperation such as developing joint products that are equipped with Yandex technologies including speech, navigation, and mapping to name a few.
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous Vehicles
Kroger and Nuro launching their autonomous grocery delivery service in Houston
Just months after launching a first-of-its-kind self-driving grocery delivery service in Scottsdale, Arizona back in Aug. 2018, Kroger and Nuro have announced that they will launch their autonomous grocery delivery service in Houston.
Expected to begin this spring, the service will be available through two Houston Kroger stores, serving customers residing in four local zip codes.
Link: GM's first autonomous car heads to Henry Ford Museum
Photo below: Jay Harris, 77, of Plymouth and The Henry Ford antique vehicle specialist Gordon Michael, 66, of Oak Park check out GM's first self-driving Bolt EV while GM President Mark Reuss speaks in the background Tuesday at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. (Photo: Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press)
AP uses Sonardyne's tech to stream first live broadcast to global audiences from an underwater submersible
Sonardyne International Ltd. has announced that the Associated Press used its BlueComm wireless through-water optical modem technology to stream the first live broadcast to global audiences from an underwater submersible.
Coming from a two-person submersible operating in waters off the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, the live broadcast via YouTube was “the first multi-camera live signal in full broadcast quality from manned submersibles using optical video transmission techniques, in which the pictures transmit through the waves using the electromagnetic spectrum,” according to the AP.
Aurrigo plans to showcase how driverless pods can help those with disabilities
An autonomous vehicle company in England called Aurrigo will soon launch a six-month trial to demonstrate how driverless pods can help improve the mobility and independence of people that have health conditions and disabilities.
Considered the first trial of its kind in the world, the trial will involve blind veterans in Brighton, England that are participating in an exercise that explores possible ‘first and last mile’ transport options.
Aurrigo has partnered with Blind Veterans UK for the trial, which is expected to start in April. The company expects to obtain valuable real-life experiences that it can use to improve the technology going forward.
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development and Carmera working on HD maps for autonomous vehicles
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development Inc. (TRI-AD) and Carmera Inc. have announced that they will collaborate to conduct a proof of concept surrounding the development of camera-based automation of high definition (HD) maps for urban and surface roads.
According to the companies, this is the first step towards realizing TRI-AD's open software platform concept known as Automated Mapping Platform (AMP), which will support the scalability of highly automated driving by combining data gathered from vehicles of participating companies to generate HD maps.
China Post and Deppon Express starting autonomous package delivery services in April
Two Chinese delivery and logistics companies, China Post and Deppon Express, have announced that in April, they will begin making commercial deliveries using self-driving trucks, with the first trucks being put into daily commercial use in China.
The trucks will be equipped with autonomous driving technologies developed by FABU Technology, which is an artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on intelligent driving systems.
Volvo Buses and Nanyang Technological University demonstrate full size autonomous bus
Volvo Buses and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have demonstrated what they are calling the world’s first full size autonomous electric bus.
Having already undergone preliminary rounds of testing at the Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous vehicles (CETRAN) in Singapore, the bus, which is Volvo’s first autonomous fully electric bus in public transportation, will soon begin trials on the campus of NTU.
There are also plans to extend the route beyond the university.
Pittsburgh Mayor announces 'Pittsburgh Principles' for autonomous vehicles
On Monday, March 4, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto issued an executive order that outlines city objectives and expectations for the safe testing of autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh.
Known as the “Pittsburgh Principles,” the order also assigns responsibilities for the development of transparent and constructive reporting guidelines for the growing technology sector.
“Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to dramatically improve safety on our city streets and yield transformative benefits to equitable access and quality of life for all in our city. This can only happen when industry, agencies and people understand one another and work together,” says Mayor Peduto.
