Waymo expands robotaxi operations to Austin

Waymo – the self-driving technology firm under Google-owner Alphabet – is set to launch its Waymo One service in Austin, marking the latest expansion of its robotaxi operations.

Following successful ventures in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Waymo's move into the Texas capital underscores its ambition to establish itself as a leader in autonomous transportation.

Announced in August 2023, Austin was designated as the fourth city for Waymo One and the company...

6 March 2024 | Applications

Self-driving shuttle arrives in Sunderland

The debut of the self-driving Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) aims to revolutionise urban mobility in the city.

SAMS, which arrived in Sunderland recently, promises to redefine how residents and visitors navigate the city streets. This autonomous shuttle, set to hit the roads this spring, represents a milestone in Sunderland's journey towards embracing self-driving technology.

Sunderland's Mayor, Councillor Dorothy Trueman, said: “We are thrilled to welcome...

4 March 2024 | 5G

HARMAN looks to ‘democratise automotive connectivity’ with new telematics unit

MWC HARMAN, the Samsung-owned connected vehicle software provider, has announced the launch of a new telematics control unit (TCU) which leverages Qualcomm connected car technology to ‘democratise the automotive connectivity landscape.’

The HARMAN Ready Connect 5G TCU, which is being showcased this week at MWC 2024, is based on the Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 and promises strong performance across connectivity, scalability and usability. Consumers will get ‘rich...

26 February 2024 | 5G

San Francisco mob sets fire to Waymo vehicle

An angry mob destroyed a Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco on Monday night. The incident occurred around 9pm local time when a group of approximately 20 individuals surrounded the stationary Waymo vehicle.

https://twitter.com/SFFDPIO/status/1756581720399520077

While footage of the event has surfaced online, it remains unclear what prompted the mob to destroy the vehicle. Speculation has arisen following a recent incident involving a Waymo vehicle colliding with a...

12 February 2024 | Connected Vehicles

Cruise is being investigated after robotaxi dragged pedestrian

General Motors’ driverless Cruise division is facing investigations by both the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following an October 2023 incident in which a jaywalking pedestrian was struck by an autonomous Cruise vehicle and then dragged 20 feet, exacerbating her injuries.  

The probes come as Cruise itself released findings yesterday regarding the incident, which also involved another vehicle. The company acknowledged it "failed to...

26 January 2024 | Applications

Samsung wants to connect smart homes with vehicles

Samsung is collaborating with Hyundai to expand its SmartThings platform to support connected vehicles. The goal is to develop solutions that fully integrate the smart home and connected vehicles for future lifestyles.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 3 January to work together over the next few years. The partnership will connect Samsung’s SmartThings platform with Hyundai and Kia connected vehicles to develop “Home-to-Car” and...

4 January 2024 | Applications

Huawei forecasts growth in digital energy and smart car solutions

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is targeting growth in 2024 for its newer business areas including digital energy and smart vehicle solutions, according to rotating chairman Hu Houkun. 

In an end-of-year memo, Hu said the company expects to surpass 700 billion yuan ($103 billion) in sales for 2023. While its core ICT infrastructure business "will remain robust," greater momentum is building behind the firm’s digital energy and smart vehicle solutions.

"The...

3 January 2024 | Applications

TomTom and Microsoft unveil generative AI for connected vehicles

TomTom has joined forces with Microsoft to bring generative AI to the automotive industry. 

This collaboration has resulted in the development of a fully-integrated AI-powered conversational assistant that enhances voice interaction with infotainment, location search, and vehicle command systems.

The AI-powered assistant – a product of TomTom's expertise combined with Microsoft's advancements in AI – allows drivers to engage in natural conversations with their...

19 December 2023 | AI

Virgin Media develops 5G drone for search and rescue missions

Virgin Media O2 has developed a 5G-connected drone that’s designed to bolster communication for search and rescue teams.

The Warwickshire Search and Rescue team is the first to trial the 5G drone. In vast and remote terrains, establishing reliable communication proves to be a challenge for rescue teams—hindering their ability to execute time-critical missions effectively.

Virgin Media O2's 5G Technical Trials team devised a solution that leverages a network of...

13 December 2023 | 5G

Key figures depart Cruise amid robotaxi incidents

Daniel Kan, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Cruise – the autonomous car firm backed by General Motors – has resigned. This development closely follows the departure of Cruise's CEO and fellow co-founder, Kyle Vogt, who made his resignation announcement just a day prior.

The departure of both key figures comes in the wake of a series of safety incidents involving Cruise's driverless cars on the streets of San Francisco, where the company is headquartered.

One...

21 November 2023 | Applications