[230905] #Cruise #Tesla #Volvo 

1. Driverless Taxis Blocked Ambulance in Fatal Accident, San Francisco Fire Dept. Says

• • On August 14, two Cruise driverless taxis blocked an ambulance carrying a critically injured patient in San Francisco.
  • The incident occurred on a four-lane, one-way street in the SoMa neighborhood, delaying the transport of the patient to the hospital.
  • The patient, who had been struck by a car, later died at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, about 2.4 miles from the accident site.
  • Cruise, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of General Motors, claimed it was not at fault and provided footage showing their vehicle had moved from the scene before the ambulance loaded the victim.
  • The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed the incident and emphasized the importance of quick access to patients.
  • San Francisco officials have protested the expansion of driverless taxi services due to multiple incidents involving autonomous vehicles interfering with emergency responders.
  • There have been over 70 incidents of autonomous vehicles interfering with emergency responders in San Francisco.
  • City officials plan to file a motion for a new hearing on the service expansion, expressing concerns about the readiness of autonomous vehicles for public use.

2. Tesla decreases the price of FSD beta to $12,000

• • Tesla has reduced the price of its “full self-driving” (FSD) beta software by $3,000, resulting in a 20% price cut.
  • The cost of FSD in North America is now $12,000, down from the $15,000 price introduced about a year ago.
  • Tesla vehicles come with standard driver-assistance features called “Autopilot.”
  • An additional $6,000 is charged for “Enhanced Autopilot,” which includes extras for parking and remote vehicle maneuvers.
  • FSD offers enhanced Autopilot features and the ability to detect and ideally stop at traffic lights and stop signs.
  • Tesla vehicles are not fully self-driving or autonomous, despite the name of the software.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has raised safety concerns about Tesla’s FSD.
  • Tesla intends to eventually license its FSD technology to other automakers.
  • Other automakers like GM and Ford are also introducing their own advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that offer hands-free driving on highways but require driver attention.

3. Inceptio Technology Announces New Orders for Heavy-duty Autonomous Trucks Equipped with its Truck Navigate-on-Autopilot Feature

• • Inceptio Technology, a leading developer of autonomous driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks in China, has made several announcements at its second annual Tech Day in Shanghai.
  • Inceptio has entered into procurement and strategic collaboration agreements with major logistics companies STO Express, ZTO Freight, and Deppon Express.
  • They also announced a cooperation agreement with China Pacific Insurance Co., Ltd. (CPIC) to develop innovative insurance products tailored to autonomous heavy-duty trucks.
  • Two joint studies with CPIC and academic teams revealed significant safety and driver experience benefits for Inceptio’s autonomous trucks compared to human-operated trucks.
  • Inceptio’s autonomous trucks have shown superior safety, reduced labor costs, improved driver experiences, and better fuel efficiency.
  • Inceptio’s trucks are equipped with Truck Navigate-on-Autopilot (T-NOA) and receive regular over-the-air (OTA) updates.
  • The core technology elements behind Inceptio’s autonomous trucks include an end-to-end network with safety guardrails, the Inceptio Super Driver (TruckGPT), and the Inceptio Autonomous Truck Platform.
  • Inceptio has made substantial progress in commercializing its technology, with over 50 million kilometers of accident-free autonomous driving operations.
  • The company received orders for autonomous trucks from its logistics partners, reflecting confidence in its technology.

4. Japanese autonomous trucking start-up raises $24m

• • A Japanese autonomous trucking start-up T2 has secured $24 million in funding in its latest financing round.
  • The company, founded in 2017, is developing self-driving trucks for the logistics and transportation industry.
  • The funding round was led by a Japanese financial institution, and it also included participation from several other investors.
  • The company plans to use the funds to continue developing its autonomous truck technology and expand its operations.
  • The autonomous trucking start-up aims to address challenges in the transportation industry, including driver shortages and the need for more efficient and cost-effective logistics solutions.

5. Volvo Removes Safety Driver in Autonomous Mining Operations

• • Volvo Autonomous Solutions has partnered with Brönnöy Kalk, a limestone mining operation in Norway, since 2018 to develop autonomous mining operations.
  • The partnership has achieved a significant milestone where human drivers are no longer needed in the trucks used for hauling materials out of the mines.
  • The autonomous transport solution involves seven fully autonomous Volvo FH trucks equipped with Volvo Autonomous Solutions’ in-house-developed virtual driver system.
  • These autonomous trucks operate in challenging conditions, including steep inclines, extreme weather, and long tunnels, to transport limestone from the mine to the crusher.
  • The removal of safety drivers from these autonomous trucks represents a major advancement in the industry and enhances safety, efficiency, and competitiveness.
  • Brönnöy Kalk is not purchasing the autonomous trucks but is buying autonomous transport capacity from Volvo Autonomous Solutions, presenting new business models in the industry.
  • The solution, developed since 2018, provides a comprehensive package that includes software, site infrastructure, training, and operations support to simplify the integration of autonomous technology into existing operations.