[250603] #Plus #Volkswagen #Innoviz

1. Plus Completes Successful Test of Semi-Autonomous Trucks with Partners DSV, dm-drogerie markt, and IVECO

• Plus, in partnership with IVECO, DSV, and dm-drogerie markt, successfully completed the first road test of a semi-autonomous truck in Germany.
• The test involved an IVECO S-Way truck equipped with Plus’s AI-based semi-autonomous driving solution, including lidar, radar, and camera sensors for 360-degree visibility.
• The semi-autonomous truck demonstrated safe and efficient driving in real-world conditions, maintaining lane positions, changing lanes, and adapting to traffic.
• The technology is designed for depot-to-depot operations, optimizing efficiency in repetitive logistics routes.
• The solution is expected to reduce fuel consumption by 10%, enhance driver comfort, and decrease driver fatigue.
• The pilot aims to address the driver shortage in Europe, expected to reach 700,000 by 2028, by making the driver role more appealing.
• IVECO, Plus, and their partners plan to commercially launch factory-built self-driving trucks in the US by 2027, followed by Europe.
• Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer at IVECO Group, emphasized that automation will not replace drivers but enhance their roles.

  

2. Thirty Next Field Survey (NFS) vehicles, such as the one we have now on board, are collecting data every day across the country

Hyundai AutoEver’s NFS vehicles are collecting precise road data nationwide to build SolMap, an advanced integrated map system that will support autonomous driving and ADAS.

3. Waymo plans to map Boston area streets using its self-driving vehicles

• Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company under Alphabet Inc., plans to map Boston’s road network using self-driving vehicles starting this month.
• The mapping project will cover key areas including Mission Hill, East Boston, Cambridge, South Boston, the Massachusetts Turnpike, and Interstate 93.
• Each Waymo vehicle is equipped with 29 cameras providing a 360-degree view, enabling precise road mapping for autonomous navigation.
• Trained human operators will be present in the vehicles to ensure safety during the mapping process.
• This move is part of Waymo’s expansion strategy, adding Boston to its existing operations in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
• The mapping is a critical first step before launching autonomous vehicle services in a new city, ensuring accurate and safe navigation.
• Waymo aims to enhance road safety and improve traffic management through advanced autonomous driving technology.
• The company’s technology is designed to minimize human errors, offering safer and more efficient mobility solutions.

4. Innoviz’s LiDAR platform to boost VW autonomous tech

5. Aurora expands Werner pilot with 1000-mile autonomous lane

• Aurora Innovation has expanded its autonomous truck pilot with Werner Enterprises, extending the route from Fort Worth, Texas, to Phoenix, Arizona, creating a 1,000-mile autonomous lane.
• The route exceeds the federal hours-of-service limit for human drivers, but Aurora’s driverless technology aims to cut transit time in half.
• Currently, the pilot operates with human supervision, but Aurora plans to launch fully driverless operations on this route by the end of 2025.
• Aurora has been developing this expansion since 2022, building on its existing 600-mile Fort Worth-El Paso route.
• The company aims to validate autonomous operations for night driving and adverse weather conditions by the second half of 2025.
• Aurora’s CEO, Chris Urmson, highlighted that the company has already completed over 4,000 driverless miles.
• Aurora expects to increase its driverless fleet, planning to operate tens of autonomous trucks by the end of this year.
• This expansion aligns with Werner’s vision of integrating autonomous trucking as a key part of its future logistics strategy.