Waymo gets another $2.5bn investment
Google’s driverless car division has announced a further US$2.5 billion (£1.8 billion) of investment. In a blog post, co-CEOs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov say they’ll use this latest round of investment to “continue advancing the Waymo Driver, as well as continuing to grow our team. “With tens of millions of miles driven on public roads […]
Germany approves driverless vehicles on public roads
Germany has passed a bill that will allow driverless vehicles on public roads by 2022, making it possible for driverless vehicles to enter public roads without a human safety driver. FleetEurope.com reports that under the terms of the new law, vehicles with Level 4 autonomy will be allowed – this means the computer handles all the […]
Cruise gets driverless approval in California
General Motors’ driverless subsidiary Cruise has been given approval to offer driverless rides to passengers in California. Cruise will be able to operate services without a driver in the vehicle, but will not be allowed to charge for it. “We’re honoured to be the first to receive a permit from the @californiapuc to provide a […]
ITS America CEO joins driverless advisory board
The President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America President, Shailen Bhatt, has been appointed to the advisory board of the driverless car company Aurora. Tech Crunch reports that the company, which bought Uber ATG last year, has “tapped experts in aviation safety, insurance, medicine and automotive safety — all people from outside […]
Aviva announces driverless pod trial
Aviva and Darwin Innovation Group are entering into a five-year strategic partnership, beginning with collaboration on an autonomous vehicle trial. Darwin is trialling an autonomous shuttle at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. Created by Navya, this vehicle, controlled by 5G and satellite connectivity, will be able to pick passengers up, transport them […]
TRL and Oxbotica working on off-road autonomous framework
Oxbotica and TRL have piloted the use of the first Code of Practice for the safe and cost-effective deployment of autonomous vehicles in unstructured off-highway environments, with a live trial conducted in a quarry using a number of off-road vehicles. The Innovate UK-funded consortium has developed and demonstrated capabilities to adapt and retrofit autonomy, using robust low-cost sensors, […]
Aurrigo in UK first driverless service in Cambridge
Driverless pod developer Aurrigo is claiming another UK milestone in autonomous technology with its Auto-Shuttles officially beginning trials in Cambridge. The company, which develops first and last mile transport solutions, will become the first firm in the country to undertake testing of a custom-made autonomous vehicle capable of carrying passengers on a main road surrounded […]
Autonomous trial underway in Cambridge
As lockdown eases, a trial of autonomous pods can get underway at last in Cambridge, with two vehicles now beginning operations in the city. The Cambridge Independent reports that Aurrigo engineers are mapping the test route from Madingley Road Park & Ride around the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge campus. Selected passengers will be invited […]
VW testing driverless cars in Europe
Volkswagen is stepping up its testing of driverless electric vehicles ahead of a planned commercial introduction in 2025. Car Magazine reports that by the end of this year, prototypes of the ID Buzz electric version of the Kombi van will be testing on Munich’s streets, as well as on a purpose-built test track near Munich airport. […]
Man arrested for sitting in back seat of driverless moving Tesla
A motorist in the Bay Area of California has been arrested after an policeman observed him in the backseat of a Tesla travelling on a freeway there. The California Highway Patrol says 25 year old Param Sharma was arrested for alleged reckless driving and disobeying a peace officer. ABC7 TV in San Francisco reports that […]