Location Based Systems

After seventeen years and more than US$11 billion (10 billion euros), Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system is set to go live today, 15 December. Initial services offered free of charge by Galileo include support to emergency services. Anyone placing a distress call from a Galileo-enabled beacon can now be found and rescued more quickly, since the detection time will be reduced to only 10 minutes. This service should be later improved by notifying the sender of the emergency call that he/she has

Dutch digital security specialist Gemalto is supplying its LinqUS On-Demand Connectivity (ODC) subscription management solution and the GSMA-compliant embedded SIMs (eSIMs) to telecom carrier China Mobile. The solution will enable secure connectivity for connected cars in any vehicle equipped with an embedded SIM, including infotainment, navigation support, safety or vehicle diagnostics. Chinese consumers place more emphasis on in-car technology than on price or engine performance when it comes to buying

A coalition of US automakers, highway safety advocates and intelligent transportation organizations welcome the release of the Department of Transportation's notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish an interoperable platform for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications in new vehicles to provide safety and mobility benefits. Citing an enormous potential to reduce crashes on US roads, the US Department of Transportation believes the proposed rule that would advance the deployment of connected vehi

The Flemish Ministry of Mobility and Public Works in Belgium has selected Here to deploy a Cooperative Intelligent Transportation System (C-ITS) aimed at improving road safety and transport efficiency. The solution will utilise location platform technology to deliver safety critical alert information to drivers, warning them of such hazards as a slow or stationary vehicle, sudden traffic build-up, road works or adverse weather. The planned deployment will cover major motorways in Flanders, including t

US-based First Transit, in partnership with EasyMile, is to carry out the first autonomous vehicle (AV) passenger shuttle pilot in North America, at the 585 acre Bishop Ranch Office Park in San Ramon, California. The shuttle will connect tenants to multiple transit options including bus, bike and car-sharing services. The AV passenger shuttle is designed to travel short distances using pre-programmed routes. Each shuttle can carry 12 passengers and can operate for 14 hours on a battery charge; it is equi

Automaker Audi has launched its vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology in Las Vegas, US, with Traffic Light Information, an Audi connect Prime feature, which is available on select 2017 Audi A4, Q7 and Allroad models. The technology enables the car to communicate with the infrastructure in select cities and metropolitan areas across the US by receiving real-time signal information from the advanced traffic management system that monitors traffic lights via the on-board 4G LTE data connection. When ap

The recent Polis 2016 Conference was attended by 450 mobility professionals from across Europe and beyond who met to debate on urban and regional mobility. Local and regional authorities called for greater understanding of where automated road transport can benefit cities. The conference plenary session brought together local governments, the automobile industry, research and the European and international institutions to explore where automated vehicles can deliver benefit for cities and what needs to b

Following a letter written by motorcyclists’ organisations Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA), MAG NL and KNMV sent to the Netherlands Vehicle Authority RDW, expressing concerns about European type approval for Tesla, vehicle authorities will cooperate with motorcyclists’ organisations and conduct their own test program with different brands of semi-autonomous cars. A driver of a Tesla – and of an increasing number of advanced cars – can leave key actions to the vehicle, while in t

A self-driving truck developed by Otto has been travelling on two Ohio roads after state officials announced details of new investments to support innovative transportation technology, says Associated Press. The vehicle is travelling on a 35-mile stretch of US Route 33 and in central Ohio between Dublin and East Liberty, home to the Transportation Research Center, an independent testing facility. It travels in regular traffic, with a driver in the cab to intervene should problems arise. Officials say

The European Commission has adopted a European Strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), a milestone towards cooperative, connected and automated mobility. The Strategy will make it possible to deploy vehicles that can communicate with each other and the infrastructure on EU roads as of 2019. Digital connectivity is expected to significantly improve road safety, traffic efficiency and comfort of driving, while boosting the market of cooperative, connected and automated driving and th