Mobility
Mobility
Ford and Michigan State renew and expand research partnership that covers autonomous technology
Ford Motor Company and Michigan State University (MSU) recently announced the renewal and expansion of their collaborative research alliance, which will facilitate continued collaboration between the two entities in a variety of fields, including autonomous technology and mobility.
Ford and MSU say that by strengthening their research and development partnership, they will be able to develop a broad range of innovations, with a focus on the aforementioned autonomous technology and mobility, as well as sensors and lightweight materials.
Over the course of their four-year partnership thus far, Ford and MSU have worked together on several successful projects, including collaborations in advanced engines, composite materials and information technology.
Local Motors announces winners of first fleet challenge; second challenge kicks off
Local Motors by LM Industries Group Inc. has selected entities in Phoenix, Arizona and Sacramento, California as the winning entries for its first fleet challenge for its autonomous shuttle known as Olli.
According to Local Motors, the “first-of-its-kind global fleet challenge” invites municipalities, campuses and designated districts to propose a short-term, local use for Local Motors' self-driving, electric shuttles.
An Olli fleet is deployed to a series of select locations after the entries are evaluated and selected by a panel of esteemed judges.
Self-driving shuttles begin operating in Columbus, Ohio
The first phase of a project designed to test, operate and evaluate self-driving vehicles has launched in Ohio, as self-driving shuttles began operating on the streets of downtown Columbus on Monday, Dec. 10.
Through the project, residents and visitors will get to experience intelligent transportation first-hand.
The shuttles are being operated by May Mobility, which began testing and route mapping around the Scioto Mile—an urban oasis made up of more than 175 acres of lush parkland—this week.
“This is an important project for Columbus, but this pilot is a big step in our statewide plan,” says Jim Barna, executive director of DriveOhio.
DriveOhio and Ohio UAS Center partner to support UAS research and development
DriveOhio and the Ohio UAS Center have announced a new strategic plan to support UAS research and development.
Through the strategic plan, three main initiatives— FlyOhio, Ohio UAS Center Operations, and workforce development—will be addressed.
In an effort to facilitate the widescale use of UAS for delivery and transport, FlyOhio will seek to develop an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system; Ohio UAS Center Operations will facilitate the use of UAS for a variety of business services; and workforce development will educate and create the skills needed for smart mobility jobs around this technology.
University of Alberta evaluating how driverless shuttle performs in cold climate
The University of Alberta’s Centre for Smart Transportation (CST) is testing a driverless electric shuttle on campus to evaluate how it performs in a cold climate.
Known as ELA, the electric autonomous vehicle operates without a driver, is capable of carrying 12 passengers, and drives at speeds up to 12 kilometers (approximately 7.5 miles) per hour.
Designed to operate on existing city infrastructure, the shuttle is currently operating on the University of Alberta South Campus, giving Edmonton residents the opportunity to participate in the tests. The area where the vehicle is operating has been fitted with special signs for the shuttle to “read,” as well as digital signaling equipment that allow the vehicle to understand its environment.
Audi, Airbus and Italdesign test flying taxi concept consisting of self-driving electric car and passenger UAS
During Drone Week in Amsterdam, Audi, Airbus and Italdesign tested a flying and driving prototype of “Pop.Up Next,” which the companies describe as an “innovative concept for a flying taxi” that combines a self-driving electric car with a passenger UAS.
During the first public test flight, the flight module accurately placed a passenger capsule on the ground module, which then autonomously drove from the test grounds.
The companies say that this concept is still a 1:4 scale model, but they believe that in the near future, a convenient and efficient flying taxi service in large cities—in multi-modal operation, in the air and on the road—could be used by Audi customers, allowing them to enjoy their leisure time, relax, or work, all without having to change vehicles.
Volvo Trucks to provide mine in Norway with autonomous transportation option
Volvo Trucks has signed an agreement with Norwegian quarry Brønnøy Kalk AS to provide its first commercial autonomous option, which will be used to transport limestone from an open pit mine to a nearby port.
Through the agreement, six autonomous Volvo FH trucks will transport limestone on a five kilometer stretch through tunnels between the mine itself and the crusher.
This strategy has been successfully tested and will continue to be tested throughout the rest of the year. The goal is for the solution to be fully operational by the end of 2019.
Apex.AI focused on creating 'robust, reliable, safe, and secure software' for autonomous mobility systems
With a focus on creating robust, reliable, safe, and secure software for autonomous mobility systems, a company called Apex.AI was officially announced on Nov. 15.
The company recently closed a $15.5 million Series A funding.
“Apex.AI is transitioning autonomous vehicle software from R&D to commercialization so that it meets highest safety and reliability standards, a need for both automakers and consumers,” Apex.AI says in a company blog post.
Autonomous shuttle service headed to Albemarle County, Virginia
An autonomous shuttle service is headed to Albemarle County, Virginia, thanks to the recently announced $600,000 partnership between Albemarle County, robotics software company Perrone Robotics (PRI), and “XR solutions provider” JAUNT Inc.
The location of the service has yet to be decided, but the partners say that the service will allow riders to get on and off the autonomous shuttle along a fixed route.
The shuttle will operate autonomously, but a safety-trained transit “ambassador” will be on-board to answer customer questions, offer any required assistance, and take over as a driver if necessary.
