Location Based Systems

Following its acquisition of UK-based Distribution Planning Software International, PTV Group has put a new management team in place in the UK and Scandinavia. Both companies offer route planning software designed for the transport logistics sector and the deal expands the international market for their products.

Groupe Renault has entered into a strategic development agreement with Chronocam, a developer of biologically-inspired vision sensors and computer vision solutions for automotive applications. Renault plans to leverage Chronocam’s bio-inspired vision technology to extend capabilities of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving.

Britain’s Prince Charles, who is on a state visit to Abu Dhabi, was given a tour of Masdar City, where he was given an insight into Masdar’s growing portfolio of clean energy projects across the globe. He arrived in Masdar City via 2GetThere’s personal rapid transit (PRT) driverless vehicle.

In a blog post, Tesla says it has entered into an agreement to acquire German engineering company Grohmann Engineering. Led by founder and CEO Klaus Grohmann, Grohmann Engineering is experienced in highly automated methods of manufacturing.

T-Mobile has unveiled its T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE, an all-in-one connected car solution that transforms a car into a rolling wi-fi hotspot and gives added vehicle diagnostics, safety and security features. T-Mobile SyncUP DRIVE plugs in to the car’s OBD-II (on-board diagnostics) port, standard on most cars built after 1996, is always on, doesn’t require charging and can be managed from a smartphone.

Researchers have developed an autonomous mobility scooter which could, in principle, use a scooter to get down the hall and through the lobby of an apartment building, take a golf cart across the building’s parking lot, and pick up an autonomous car on the public roads.

2GetThere’s ParkShuttle driverless vehicle, which has been operated by Connexxion at the Rivium business park in Capelle aan den IJssel in the Netherlands since 1999, will continue running for at least two more years. The contract has been extended until 2018 by the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH) and Capelle aan den IJssel plans to renew the system and expand it once the concession runs out.

In addition to the driver assistance systems already in use on its card, new technology being developed by Ford includes cross-traffic alert with braking technology to help reduce parking stress by detecting people and objects about to pass behind the vehicle, providing a warning to the driver and then automatically braking if the driver does not respond. Rear wide-view camera, on the in-car display, will offer an alternative wide-angle view of the rear of the vehicle. Enhanced active park assist will paral