Autonomous driving
California allows autonomous cars without a steering wheel
In California, self-driving cars without a steering wheel and pedals will be allowed on the road from April 2018. The US state's transportation authority has now overturned the previous requirement that a human safety driver must always be at the wheel in the event of an emergency.
Companies from Silicon Valley, among others, had campaigned for this change. Developers such as Google's sister company Waymo are working on technology for fully autonomous robot cabs. But car giant General Motors also recently presented a prototype without a steering wheel or pedals.
In California, 50 companies from all over the world have so far received permission to test self-driving cars. German car manufacturers are also among them. From April 2, 2018, it will now be possible to apply for licenses for vehicles without people at the wheel. However, it must be proven that the cars meet safety standards and are protected against cyberattacks, for example. And at least for the time being, the operation of the cars will be monitored by radio and the vehicles will record data - similar to flight recorders in aviation. A procedure also needs to be developed for communicating with a police officer who stops a robot car.
California is forging ahead with the new regulations, while a nationwide regulation is stuck in Washington. Other states are also taking the initiative: Waymo has been given permission to set up the first robot cab service in a district of Phoenix in Arizona.
You might also be interested in
First driverless car 50 years ago
The tire manufacturer and automotive supplier Continental put the first driverless car on the test track 50 years ago. The aim at the time was to test the tires and obtain reproducible results.
read more...Creating trust with virtual eyes
Creating trust in autonomous vehicles with virtual eyes: This is the aim of a new Jaguar Land Rover research project. Self-driving driving cocoons - known as pods - are equipped with large displays that look and behave like eyes.
read more...Autonomous trucks in everyday operation on the A9
Autonomous trucks from DB subsidiary Schenker are currently on the A9 highway between Munich and Nuremberg with loads. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer is convinced that this will make transportation safer, more efficient and more...
read more...In-wheel drive for autonomous car 'Orbit'
The electric and autonomous shuttle 'Orbit' from car manufacturer Fisker Automotive will be equipped with the in-wheel eDrive technology 'ProteanDrive'. The drive technology can be easily integrated into the vehicle and allows for more space in the...
read more...Daimler builds electric car for EQ series in France
Daimler is spending half a billion euros to set up production for one of the planned electric cars of the new EQ brand at its Smart plant in Hambach, France. The factory is to produce an electric compact car and become part of the corresponding...
read more...Self-propelled transport vehicle
Lidl tests autonomous and electric T-Pod
Lidl is planning to test the self-driving T-Pod e-transporter from Swedish company Einride. The project is due to start in Halmstad (Sweden) in fall 2018. The T-Pod can carry 15 pallets and weighs around 20 tons when loaded - with a range of up to...
read more...German manufacturers lead in patents
Time and again, German car manufacturers have been accused of missing out on trends. Even self-driving robot cars tend to be associated with American tech giants. However, most patents are held by German companies.
read more...Intel completes acquisition of Mobileye
Intel has acquired 84% of Mobileye's ordinary shares, thereby completing the takeover of the Israeli company announced in the spring. The purchase price was around 15 billion US dollars.
read more...MTCON and Sensor-Technik Wiedemann combine expertise
MTConnectivity power2pcb (MTCON) has a new shareholder: Sensor-Technik Wiedemann (STW) has held a stake in the power element manufacturer since the end of 2019.
read more...