Tag: autonomous-cars

Intel plans a test fleet of 100 self-driving cars

Intel isn’t wasting any time now that it officially owns Mobileye . The Mobileye team has unveiled plans to build a fleet of 100 or more self-driving vehicles to conduct tests in both its native Israel as well as the US and Europe. They’ll meld Mobileye’s sensor, mapping and driving technology with Intel’s computing platforms, data center tech and 5G wireless to make Level 4 autonomous cars (they can do all the driving themselves but may ask for intervention) that talk to the cloud. They won’t be tied to any one brand — sorry, BMW . As Intel explains, it’s as much about selling the concept as actual experimentation. The fleet will show would-be customers how self-driving cars behave in real-world circumstances, including mapping and safety features, and will give Intel a better way to talk to regulators . Intel wants to prove that its self-driving tech can work around the world, and that it can tweak its formula to suit what companies want It’ll take a while before you see the fruits of this effort. The first vehicles don’t deploy until later in 2017, and the magic 100 mark is coming “eventually.” And of course, any customers sold on the tech will take a while after that to make use of it. Still, it’s an important step toward a widely available platform for self-driving cars. Source: Intel

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Intel plans a test fleet of 100 self-driving cars

Bosch took us for a ride in its level 3 autonomous car

Bosch provided flights to Frankfurt and three nights’ accommodation for this trip to the Bosch Mobility Experience. Video edited by Jennifer Hahn. (video link) BOXBERG, GERMANY—Are autonomous cars like buses? In one way, yes. You wait ages for a ride in one, and then all of a sudden several show up in short succession. In late June,  we went for a spin in Jack , Audi’s level 3 autonomous test vehicle. Then, a couple of weeks later in Germany at the Bosch Mobility Experience, we got to sample another such vehicle. Read 14 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Bosch took us for a ride in its level 3 autonomous car

AT&T paid $1.6 billion to own the next generation of wireless

For all intents and purposes, it looks like AT&T is going to own a majority of 5G wireless connections in the US. The company has announced that it has acquired Straight Path Communications for $1.6 billion. Not familiar with the name? That’s totally understandable. “Straight Path is the largest commercial holder of the 39 GHz spectrum, with about 95 percent of the total licenses commercially available, as well as a significant holder of 28 GHz in major markets, including New York and San Francisco, ” the company’s website reads. “This acquisition will support AT&T’s leadership in 5G, which will accelerate the delivery of new experiences for consumers and businesses like virtual and augmented reality, telemedicine, autonomous cars, smart cities and more, ” according to the statement from AT&T . Specifically, the telco pointed to beaming DirecTV Now to customers over a fixed 5G connection as an example of what’s capable here. Last July, FierceWireless pointed out that while the 37/39 GHz spectrum had bandwidth advantages over the more commonly used 28 GHz range, anyone licensing the former would need “between 44 and 46 percent more spectrum” to offer the same type of coverage the latter provides. With this acquisition that shouldn’t be an issue for AT&T. That’s assuming the purchase is green-lit by the Federal Communications Commission, of course. Given the FCC’s newly frigid stance on net neutrality, the approval likely won’t be much of an issue. So maybe the folks in Austin and Indianapolis will get to give the network a try when the speedy (400Mbps or better) service starts testing there later this year. Source: PR Newswire , Straight Path

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AT&T paid $1.6 billion to own the next generation of wireless

Uber will offer free rides in its self-driving cars this month

After months of testing , Uber’s self-driving cars are ready to pick up their first passengers. Bloomberg reports that the ride-hailing company will allow customers in Pittsburgh to request one of its autonomous Volvo XC90 sport-utility vehicles via their smartphone in the coming weeks, pushing it into territory that other major developers of self-driving cars have yet to fully explore. According to the report, Uber won’t be sending its cars out alone. A human supervisor will sit in the driving seat, as required by law, “with their fingertips on the wheel.” A second person will be sat in the front passenger seat, taking notes on a laptop while cameras inside and outside the vehicle record everything that happens during the ride. Customers won’t be expected to pay for their journey in Uber’s XC90s, at least to begin with, which may help put nervous riders at ease. Pittsburgh serves as the ideal environment for Uber’s autonomous trials. The city is home to its Advanced Technologies Center (ATC) and local authorities have already approved the testing of its self-driving fleet. When the do hit the road, only a handful of cars will be available right away, but Uber has struck a deal with Volvo to take delivery of 100 vehicles by the end of the year. With Ford announcing yesterday that it intends to have fully autonomous cars on the road within five years , Uber is moving swiftly. It wants to be out ahead of its rivals with its own tried-and-tested solution, not a ready-made one from a car manufacturer that could one day eat its lunch. Source: Bloomberg

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Uber will offer free rides in its self-driving cars this month

Los Angeles Is The First City To Take Autonomous Cars Seriously

The Los Angeles International Auto Show opened with the Connected Car Expo and the announcement of the creation of the Coalition of Transportation Technology established by the City of Los Angeles, which is quite possibly the most important urban planning project of the 21st Century. Read more…

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Los Angeles Is The First City To Take Autonomous Cars Seriously