In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Waymo, Telsa, Ford, STRADVISION, Horizon Robotics, BWI, Guident AV & Star Robotics,
Waymo Charges
Waymo started charging for robotaxi rides in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Tesla FSD Charges Less
Tesla reduced the price of FSD (Supervised) to $99 a month from $199 a month. Tesla also offers one-month free trial of FSD for more customer to use it.
NTSB Investigate Blue Cruise
A Mustang Mach-e ran into a stopped Honda CR-V fatally killing the occupant in Texas. NTSB is investigating “” Based on data obtained from the vehicle, the driver had been operating the vehicle in BlueCruise mode before the crash.”
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation as the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.
STRADVISION & Horizon Robotics’ Optimization
Expanding on their strategic partnership in mid-2023, STRADVISION, an automotive industry pioneer in deep learning-based vision perception technology, together with Horizon Robotics, a leading provider of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) solutions for passenger vehicles, are excited to announce a new milestone in their collaboration. STRADVISION’s next generation of award-winning SVNet software, the ‘3D Perception Network’, has been optimized and is now available for OEMs and Tier 1s on Horizon Journey™ 3 solution.
‘3D Perception Network’ represents STRADVISION’s latest advancement in perception technology. It refines the sensing-perceiving-planning-action sequence, providing more reliable ADAS solutions. The 3D Perception Network achieves better performance by reducing detection errors by up to 10% and improves detection stability by up to 30%, and greatly enhances the scalability and cost efficiency of the ADAS/AD technology in passenger vehicles.
The partnership was founded on a shared vision to provide high-quality and cost-efficient driving solutions and is advancing toward a promising business opportunity. The successful optimization of SVNet 3D Perception Network on Journey™ 3 marks another technological milestone and establishes a straightforward path for a swift and seamless transition to the upcoming Horizon Journey™ 6. The Horizon Journey™ 6 series, equipped with Nash BPU™ architecture, offers unmatched energy efficiency and openness.
The adaptable and scalable joint solution by STRADVISION and Horizon Robotics continues to lead the market in terms of performance, low system complexity, and cost-effectiveness, paving the way for expanded mass-market production of L2/L2+ ADAS systems, and bringing safe, comfortable, and enjoyable driving experiences to consumers.
BWI Inks Deal with thyssenkrupp Steering
BWI Group, a world-leading tier-1 intelligent automotive chassis supplier, and thyssenkrupp Steering, a global tier-1 automotive partner for steering solutions signed a contract for the development and manufacture of a pioneering Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) technology. This collaboration aims to further advance Level 3 and above autonomous driving brake capabilities.
The long-term cooperation will pave the way for further chassis-by-wire collaboration. The technical synergies will drive the future of X-by-wire chassis systems and enable the transformation from assisted to autonomous driving by enhancing safety, comfort and efficiency.
George Chang, CEO of BWI Group, and Patrick Vith, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steering, formalized the agreement in Budapest, Hungary, on April 9. Executives from both companies were present at the signing ceremony.
“We at BWI are excited about the future of chassis-by-wire,” said George Chang, CEO of BWI Group. “We are pleased to be collaborating with thyssenkrupp Steering on this truly innovative technology, leveraging our expertise in braking systems since 1934 and our century-long heritage of chassis technology innovation to drive progress within the industry.”
“Together, we want to contribute to the next generation of chassis systems and set standards for safety, performance, and sustainability” said Patrick Vith, CEO of thyssenkrupp Steering. “Our many years of experience as a major supplier in the steering sector will stand us in good stead.”
Under the agreement, BWI Group and thyssenkrupp Steering will leverage their strengths and expertise in safety-critical systems and software to bolster their collaboration. Both companies will accelerate the joint development of EMB systems as one important element of future vehicle motion control (VMC) solutions.
BWI Group brings more than a century of history and real-world R&D and production experience to the development of the new EMB product, including expertise in brakes and suspension systems. It serves more than 50 customers worldwide. The company also leverages its prior experience with EMB systems as Delphi in the 2000s.
thyssenkrupp Steering has been developing steer-by-wire technology for many years. The company contributes deep knowledge of new electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures and software, as well as its competence in electro-mechanical braking systems derived from steering technology.
EMB R&D will occur at BWI Group’s global R&D Centers located in Italy, Poland, U.S. and China, along with its Shanghai Software Center; thyssenkrupp’s technical centers in Hungary and Liechtenstein will also perform significant roles.
Pioneering full-dry EMB technology
The jointly developed EMB system is a premier offering that complements both companies’ controlled chassis portfolios. The two companies are now developing the third generation of EMB, a revolutionary technology that fulfills the need for simplified vehicle assembly while providing braking redundancy for Level 3 and above autonomous driving technologies.
Featuring a dual-motor design, efficient packaging, and novel redundancy, the newly developed EMB caliper ensures safety and reliability. Its reaction speed for time to wheel lock (TTL) is nearly twice as fast than modern one box wet brake systems. Additionally, it enables complete braking energy recovery and fully meets the electric and intelligent needs of braking systems for smart vehicles.
EMB is a visionary brake technology that eliminates the need for brake fluid while offering precise control with zero drag. It will become the definitive solution for future brake-by-wire technology, replacing current hydraulic calipers, and the accompanying One-Box and Two-Box brake actuation/modulation systems.
Globalized production anticipated in 2026
Looking ahead, the project plans to establish state-of-the-art automated production lines by 2025. Production and product delivery are expected to begin in 2026. BWI Group’s advanced automated production facilities worldwide will coordinate and expedite the mass production of EMB systems, ensuring this groundbreaking technology is available to a wide array of automakers worldwide.
Leveraging BWI Group’s nine manufacturing facilities and multiple proving grounds spread across key automotive centers in Asia, Europe, and North America, this cooperation regarding EMB systems, ensures efficient production and widespread distribution. Because the products are designed for worldwide markets, they will be manufactured to high standards to fulfill the variety of local demands and requirements.
Strong market growth ahead
EMB technology is becoming the focus of key automotive manufacturers, and it represents game-changing evolution for automotive chassis systems and the future demands of propulsion drive systems, electrification, performance, and sustainability.
The jointly developed EMB caliper system underwent dynamic tests in Sweden, U.S. and China. Enthusiastic feedback and interests well as cooperation intentions were secured with major automakers in the three continents.
An industrial forecast projects that EMB calipers will contribute 13% of the total global braking market by 2035.
Guident AV for Star Robotics
Guident Corp, a leading Autonomous Vehicle (AV) teleoperation monitoring company announced today a Strategic Partnership agreement with Star Robotics, a leading Spanish-based company, that is revolutionizing the robotics industry with its visionary approach to offering robotic products and services tailored for operation in real human environments.
Driven by a commitment to innovation, Star Robotics harnesses in-house developed modular technologies across mechanics, electronics, autonomous navigation, cloud, and artificial intelligence. Star Robotics “Watchbot” carry out surveillance and industrial inspection tasks. These state-of-the-art advancements enable the company to craft bespoke solutions precisely tailored to address the unique requirements of diverse markets.
The Strategic Partnership aims to integrate Guident’s industry-leading AV remote monitoring, control, assistance, and support services with Star Robotics autonomous navigation, cloud, and artificial intelligence solutions. Both companies’ mission is to create collaborative, robust, and competitively priced solutions, ensuring cost-effectiveness from inception.
The culmination of those efforts will be showcased at the Guident Headquarters Inauguration event on April 18, 2024, in Boca Raton, Florida. This event will unveil the fully integrated solution, demonstrating the seamless fusion of Guident’s Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC) solution with the Star Robotics autonomous security surveillance robot.
Harald Braun, Executive Chairman and CEO at Guident, stated, “Since establishing our strategic partnership, we have been delighted to collaborate with the Star Robotics team on several projects. With their relentless focus on pushing the boundaries of possibility, Star Robotics is poised to transform the way industries harness the power of robotics to drive efficiency, productivity, and success.”
“We are thrilled to join forces with Guident, a leader in Autonomous Vehicle (AV) teleoperation monitoring industry, to introduce a security surveillance robot equipped with human-in-the-loop capabilities. This groundbreaking collaboration marks a pivotal moment in advancing safety and innovation in autonomous technology. We couldn’t be more excited to pioneer this revolutionary solution, setting a new standard for the industry.” – Yamila Feccia, Chief Commercial Officer at Star Robotics.