[250610] #Aeva #Zoox #Iveco

1. Aeva to supply 4D lidar for Airbus UpNext taxiing automation project

• Aeva Technologies has been selected by Airbus UpNext to supply its 4D lidar for the Optimate taxiing automation project.
• The Optimate program aims to enhance pilot assistance and ground safety through advanced sensor-based decision-making tools.
• Aeva’s FMCW-based 4D lidar is being tested on an Airbus A350-1000 and an electric truck at Toulouse-Blagnac and another international airport.
• Unlike traditional lidar, Aeva’s solution measures both distance and velocity per point, providing up to 500 meters of high-resolution perception.
• This precision is critical in complex airport environments, particularly for taxiway, ramp, and runway navigation.
• The project highlights Aeva’s technology potential beyond automotive, extending to aerospace applications.
• Airbus UpNext integrates multi-sensor systems in the Optimate demonstrator to evaluate next-gen pilot assistance technologies.
• Aeva’s CEO emphasized this collaboration as a milestone for 4D lidar adoption in commercial aviation.

  

2. Alphabet’s Waymo gets California nod for robotaxi expansion in San Francisco Bay Area

Waymo received approval to expand its robotaxi operations into new Bay Area regions, reaffirming its leadership in autonomous ride-hailing services.

3. Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox launching test fleet in Atlanta

• Amazon-owned Zoox has announced the launch of its autonomous vehicle testing program in Atlanta, making it the seventh U.S. city in its testing roadmap.
• The initial phase involves human-driven, retrofitted Toyota SUVs to collect data and map the city’s roads before introducing fully autonomous vehicles.
• Zoox highlighted Atlanta’s role as a major ride-hailing market and a fast-growing tech hub, calling it the “Silicon Valley of the South.”
• The city’s diverse traffic patterns, urban density, and variable weather conditions make it a valuable environment for refining autonomous capabilities.
• Zoox emphasized proactive engagement with local officials to ensure smooth integration and regulatory compliance.
• Once road mapping is complete, Zoox will begin testing autonomous driving features in downtown Atlanta.
• This move follows similar expansions by Uber and Waymo, signaling Atlanta’s growing role in the national AV landscape.
• The initiative builds on Georgia’s 2017 legislation that legalized autonomous vehicle testing on public roads.

4. Semi-autonomous trucks tested for deliveries to German drugstores. Iveco says it’s a success

5. Removing the weakest link in electrified autonomous transport: Humans

• Rocsys and Einride have partnered to demonstrate hands-free electric truck charging, eliminating the last manual step in fully autonomous logistics operations.
• The robotic charging system, tested in Sweden, uses AI-driven, vision-based arms with six degrees of freedom to autonomously plug electric trucks into chargers.
• Rocsys aims to scale this solution across ports and fleet depots, where automation is already widely adopted and safety improvements are critical.
• Einride’s cab-less Autonomous Electric Transport (AET) trucks are already operating in pilot programs with remote operator oversight from centralized control towers.
• Automating the charging process could significantly boost fleet uptime, enabling 24/7 operation and reducing labor costs.
• The pilot proves that autonomous trucks and robotic chargers can be integrated effectively, even with current hardware constraints.
• The system is adaptable to a variety of plug types and vehicle architectures, supporting commercial fleets and future autonomous vehicle designs.
• Widespread adoption of self-charging autonomous trucks could cut operational costs, reduce emissions, and increase transport system resilience.