Vueron Newsletter
No. 218
2025.07.04
| Hyundai Motor has decided to release new cars every year to develop software defined vehicle (SDV) technology | ||
| LiDAR | Ouster Soars 27% as DoD Grants First 3D LiDAR Approval for Drones | |
| Self-driving | Self-driving taxi service to expand in Gangnam | |
| USDOT wants more self-driving cars without pedals or steering wheels | ||
| KUKA Catonator is a Robotic Saw That Can Slice Through Steel, Concrete and Composites |
1. Hyundai Motor has decided to release new cars every year to develop software defined vehicle (SDV) technology
- Hyundai Motor has established an annual vehicle release roadmap to accelerate the internal development of software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology.
- In 2026, Hyundai will launch hundreds of XP2 prototype vehicles equipped to test autonomous driving algorithms and in-vehicle control software.
- The XV1, a small electric vehicle slated for 2027, will serve as a real-world testbed for SDV functionalities and software evolution in overseas markets.
- The second-generation Ioniq 5 (NE2), scheduled for 2028, will become Hyundai’s first mass-produced SDV model with full software integration.
- The company is transitioning from simulation-based development to real-road validation using actual driving data for AI optimization.
- Key SDV capabilities under development include autonomous driving modules, OTA (over-the-air) updates, and next-gen infotainment systems.
- Hyundai aims to compete with U.S. and Chinese OEMs by building an independent SDV software stack tailored for global (non-Chinese) markets.
- With a cumulative 400,000+ units sold, the Ioniq 5 provides a scalable production and market base for SDV deployment and profitability.
Hyundai is accelerating SDV development with a multi-phase roadmap centered on autonomy, OTA updates, and real-world AI optimization by 2028.
2. Ouster Soars 27% as DoD Grants First 3D LiDAR Approval for Drones
- Ouster’s share price surged 27% after the U.S. Department of Defense approved its OS1 as the first high-resolution 3D LiDAR sensor under the Blue UAS framework.
- This approval allows easier procurement by the DoD and confirms that the OS1 meets strict security and supply chain requirements.
- The OS1 sensor, part of Ouster’s mid-range product line, is praised for its superior power efficiency, weight, and ruggedness compared to traditional 2D LiDAR.
- Ouster’s LiDAR is already being used by U.S. Army and Navy, and the Blue UAS listing is expected to significantly expand its defense market presence.
- The company is also developing a Digital Flash (DF) Series, a solid-state LiDAR product line targeting ADAS and autonomous driving applications.
- Solid-state LiDAR, with no moving parts, is expected to improve reliability and reduce production costs, making it suitable for automotive-grade mass production.
- Ouster leverages custom-designed semiconductors to enhance performance, enabling higher-resolution point clouds and faster signal processing across its sensor lineup.
- Still, the company holds $168 million in cash reserves and sees a $70 billion total addressable market across defense, automotive, robotics, and infrastructure.
3. Self-driving taxi service to expand in Gangnam
- Seoul has expanded its late-night autonomous taxi pilot service across most of Gangnam District, one of the city’s busiest and most complex traffic zones.
- The service, operating from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays, now includes Apgujeong, Sinsa, Nonhyeon, and Cheongdam in addition to Yeoksam, Daechi, Dogok, and Samseong-dong.
- Riders can hail the taxis using the Kakao T app, and the trial rides remain free of charge.
- Since launching in September 2023, the service has completed 4,200 trips with zero accidents, demonstrating safety in real-world, high-density urban traffic.
- Vehicles drive autonomously on main roads, while drivers manually operate on residential streets and school zones.
- The pilot currently spans an 18-square-kilometer zone along key east-west and north-south routes, such as Teheran-ro and Gangnam-daero.
- Seoul also operates an early-morning autonomous bus and will expand bus routes to three additional areas later this year.
- Local community autonomous bus routes will begin this June in Dongjak, with further expansions planned for Dongdaemun and Seodaemun Districts.
Seoul has expanded its self-driving taxi and bus services across Gangnam and other districts, marking a major step in Korea’s autonomous mobility deployment.
4. USDOT wants more self-driving cars without pedals or steering wheels
- The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) plans to simplify exemption reviews for autonomous vehicles without traditional controls such as steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently allows exemptions for up to 2,500 vehicles per manufacturer under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The revised process aims to reduce review times from several years to just a few months, accelerating real-world deployment of fully autonomous vehicles.
The initiative targets purpose-built autonomous vehicles designed without human driving interfaces, allowing more design flexibility for developers.
As of now, only Nuro has received an exemption, highlighting the need for a faster and clearer regulatory path.
GM previously attempted to gain an exemption for its Cruise vehicle but withdrew after a prolonged review process.
The streamlined exemption process is expected to encourage innovation, improve market access, and support commercial adoption of autonomous mobility solutions.
Industry stakeholders view this change as a key enabler for testing and scaling SAE Level 4 and Level 5 vehicles in controlled environments.
The USDOT is streamlining safety rule exemptions for fully autonomous vehicles to accelerate deployment and support next-generation mobility innovation.
5. KUKA Catonator is a Robotic Saw That Can Slice Through Steel, Concrete and Composites
- KUKA’s Catonator is a next-generation industrial robotic saw equipped with advanced LiDAR-based safety systems.
- The system uses dual 3D LiDAR scanners to create a 360-degree protective zone, automatically halting operation upon detecting nearby humans or obstacles.
- Built on the KR Quantec platform, the robotic arm delivers high-torque cutting for steel, concrete, and composite materials.
- Integrated real-time sensors feed into KUKA’s SmartProduction ecosystem, with machine learning optimizing blade path and performance.
- The modular cutting head supports quick tool swaps, improving adaptability across diverse heavy industry use cases.
- Six-axis articulation and a built-in dust extraction system support clean, precision cutting even at complex angles.
- Operators manage operations through a connected dashboard, with predictive maintenance alerts enhancing reliability.
- By merging intelligent LiDAR protection with industrial-grade automation, Catonator redefines safety standards for robotic cutting systems.
KUKA’s Catonator sets a new safety benchmark by integrating dual LiDAR scanners into a high-precision robotic cutting platform for industrial automation.
*Contents above are the opinion of ChatGPT, not an individual nor company
