News

Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions (ISS) says its XCL-SG1240 series of Camera Link V2.0 modules utilise a 1.1-type global shutter CMOS sensor to deliver 12 MP images at 20 fps. These cameras are suited to sectors which require exceptional detail including low (0.5 lx) or changing lighting conditions, the company adds. The module was developed by Sony ISS engineers who worked with the Sony 1.1-type Pregius GS CMOS sensor with the intention of developing a solution which extracts better image qualit

Bristol City Council will install 120 electric vehicle (EV) charge points and convert part of its fleet to electric in a bid to become carbon neutral by 2050. The UK council also intends to transition at least 10% of its vehicles to electric by 2021. The scheme will take place across the West of England and is being funded by £2m grant provided by the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) through the Go Ultra Low West project. Go Ultra Low West’s stated aim is to provide the infrastructure and enviro

WSP is set to acquire US international professional services firm Louis Berger in a deal valued $400m. The transaction will add 5,000 employees to WSP and increase its reach in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Through the agreement, WSP intends to continue Louis Berger’s restructuring of its international operations and expects to incur $50m in one-time integration and restructuring costs in the coming years. Alexandre L’Heureux, president and chief executive officer of WSP, says the

The UK government has unveiled plans under its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which could change how people, goods and services move around the country. These initiatives have been outlined in the Last Mile and Future of mobility call for evidence, which provide an insight into how technology could make transport safer, more accessible and greener. Under the plans, electric cargo bikes, vans, quadricycles and micro vehicles could replace vans in UK cities as part of a strategy to change last-mile

Wandsworth Council will continue rolling out cashless and contactless parking terminals in August to help provide residents and visitors with more convenient payment options. The initiative includes 591 new Flowbird StradaPAL cashless terminals and 199 StradaPAL coin and card terminals. Some older machines which are at the end of their working life will also be replaced. These solar-powered terminals will be installed in Wandsworth, Clapham, Putney, Tooting, and Battersea. The systems are linked to

Car rental company Hertz has partnered with Aptiv to help operate and manage the technology firm’s autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Las Vegas. The initiative is set to launch this autumn and is intended to serve as a guide for the implementation of similar projects in future markets. Aptiv made 30 AVs available to Las Vegas riders using Lyft’s app in May.

Econolite will provide infrastructure upgrades to the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) highways in District 7 – Los Angeles through December 2020. The $21.9m project’s stated aim is to improve safety and mobility for citizens and visitors. Under the agreement, Econolite will upgrade and replace more than 3,000 detection sensors and install new signal controllers and traffic cabinets. The contract’s scope also includes deploying new communication systems, including wireless, at

Ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, also called transportation network companies (TNC), are increasing congestion in US cities, says Schaller Consulting. The transport consultancy’s latest report reveals TNCs add 2.6 new vehicle miles on the road for each mile of personal driving removed, increasing driving on city streets by 160%. Called The New Automobility: Lyft, Uber and the Future of American Cities, the document combines research and data from a national travel survey to create a detailed

Drive.ai is using self-driving vans to carry passengers on a near two-mile route in Frisco, Texas. According to a report by CBS News, the company is the first to launch such a test since an Uber vehicle driving in autonomous mode killed a pedestrian in Arizona. These vans will operate over the next six months, with a safety driver on board, and will travel between an office park and a nearby dining area and entertainment complex. Conway Chen, vice president at Drive.ai, says the service has been desi

Auto giant Ford intends to invest $4bn by 2023 to develop an autonomous vehicle (AV) business unit. The new subsidiary will be located mainly at its Corktown campus in Detroit. Called Ford Autonomous Vehicles, the business will host the company’s self-driving systems integration, AV research and advanced engineering, AV transportation-as-a-service network development, user experience, business strategy and business development teams. A report by TechCrunch says the initiative includes a $1bn investment

German car manufacturer Daimler has extended its partnership with technology company Baidu in China to develop automated driving and connectivity projects. The companies partnered in 2017 to develop the Baidu Apollo, an open platform intended to support the major features and functions of automated vehicles. Daimler also joined the Apollo Committee, a group whose stated aim is to accelerate research on safer solutions in automated driving and promote the drafting of related regulations. In July, Dai

ComfortDelGro is trialling two electric loniq taxis in Singapore which it says can be fully re-charged in under 30 minutes. The project’s stated aim is to provide the company’s cab drivers with a fast and safe charging solution. The DC fast charging station is approved by the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Energy Market Authority and is located at Komoco Motors, a private local automotive company, in Alexandra. Once fully charged, the loniq taxi is intended to allow drivers to travel more than 200km.

The UK’s University of Nottingham has entered into a partnership to deliver skills and technology on smart transportation. It has signed a formal agreement with Transport Systems Catapult’s (TSC) Deep Academic Alliance (DAA). The initiative is part of the UK government’s stated ambition to make the country a world leader in driverless and interconnected vehicles and intelligent transport infrastructure. The DAA supports TSC’s five-year academic engagement strategy to ensure transport innovation has g

Chinese manufacturer BYD has leased 30 electric vehicles (EVs) to authorities in São José dos Campos in Brazil. They will be used by police and government as part of a policy to help encourage electric and hybrid car use. The contract will last for 36 months and comprises 29 BYD e5 electric cars and one e6 vehicle.

Brigade Electronics says its Ultrasonic Detection System can help commercial vehicle drivers who operate in confined spaces or drive at low speeds to detect objects and people in blind spots. The solution scans an area around the vehicle using ultrasonic waves to detect moving or stationary objects - and then sends an alert to the driver. Up to two Ultrasonic Detection Systems can work alongside a camera monitor system. Meanwhile, an on-screen display module mounted inside the cab warns the driver o