News
BSI launches standards programme for automated vehicles
UK business improvement company BSI has partnered with the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, the Department for Transport, Innovate UK and self-driving hub Zenzic to launch a programme of standardisation to support the safe deployment of connected and automated vehicles. The partners hope the initiative will help to shape some of the technical conversations around automated vehicles, while promoting the UK’s sector expertise.
driverlessguru.com
BMW and Tencent partner on automated driving platform
BMW China and Tencent have signed an agreement to work together on building a platform to develop automated driving technologies and products tailored to the local market. The BMW Group China High Performance D³ platform will form the basis for the development of highly and fully automated driving functions.
bmwgroup.com
Pedestrian hit by driverless bus in Vienna
A driverless bus has hit a pedestrian in the knee in Vienna, reports Bloomberg, leading the city's transit authority to investigate the incident. While the woman reportedly suffered minor injuries, the trials, part of a programme involving the Austrian Institute of Technology and Siemens Mobility, have been suspended.
bloomberg.com
Groupe PSA and VINCI Autoroutes collaborate on new autonomous vehicle testing
Groupe PSA and VINCI Autoroutes have announced their latest autonomous vehicle tests, following a trial two years ago that saw a vehicle cross a tollgate in full autonomous mode. The new trials, which aim to improve a vehicle’s ability to adapt its driving in unusual or tricky situations, tested a car driving in autonomous mode through roadworks, as well as performing a 'safe stop'.
driverlessguru.com
Safety risk when driverless cars have to rely on sleepy humans
The Times reports that driverless cars could pose a significant safety risk because humans are often not ready to take over when the computer cannot cope, according to a study by the RAC Foundation and the University of Nottingham. Academics found that motorists often had poor control when asked to take on driving duties mid-journey, veering across lanes and picking up speed.
thetimes.co.uk
Automated vehicles
US rail yard to deploy self-driving vehicles
A Texas rail yard will become the first in the US to deploy self-driving vehicles, after Harbor Rail selected COAST Autonomous to provide self-driving vehicles at the Kinney County Railport (KCRP). The autonomous vehicle developer will support KCRP in a number of areas, including staff transportation, the delivery of supplies and equipment, perimeter security and even cutting the grass, with services set to begin next month.
driverlessguru.com
South Australian city trials autonomous shuttle
The South Australian Government has launched a new, free autonomous shuttle service as part of its Playford Connect autonomous bus trial. The City of Playford is working with autonomous vehicle manufacturer EasyMile, intelligent transport system specialists SAGE Automation and the South Australian Government to improve the provision of public transport in the area.
driverlessguru.com
Opinion
The case for self-driving cars in Japan
Safety improvements offered by self-driving technology could help to address Japanese concerns about the safety of elderly drivers, reports the Financial Times, following an incident in Tokyo when an 87-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle and killed a mother and child. The Japanese government also reportedly plans to issue a new driving licence for the elderly that would encourage them to drive cars equipped with automatic braking systems and other safety measures.
ft.com
Investment
Car parts industry ‘reinventing the wheel’ for autonomous vehicles
A Japanese car parts supplier is literally reinventing the wheel to prepare for autonomous vehicles, reports Bloomberg, by developing a smart tyre that can monitor its own air pressure and temperature, and eventually respond to changes in road conditions. The article notes that suppliers are striving to remain relevant in a market for ADAS and autonomous driving parts that is expected to be worth $57 billion within a decade.
bloomberg.com
And finally...
Autonomous ships to set sail in 2020?
“The bridge is gone. The living quarters have been removed. There’s not a human crewmember in sight.” Digital Trends delves into the world of autonomous ships, as maritime companies including Rolls-Royce and Nippon Yusen vie to send remote and driverless vessels to sea. While the ships will be crewed to begin with, notes the publication, we could see crewless ships taking to the water by as early as next year.
digitaltrends.com