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March 14, 2017
Drivers need clarity on liability with automated vehicles, says FIA
FIA Region I recently presented the consumer view on liability and automated driving at the Driving Future platform, where it stressed the need to increase consumer confidence in driverless technologies by guaranteeing safety and swift compensation for traffic victims. FIA believes the transition to fully autonomous vehicles will take time, during which different levels of automation will coexist on our roads, creating challenges for the current insurance model. It says there must be differentiation
March 14, 2017
Dutch tech firm awarded autonomous transport contract in Dubai
Dutch developer of sustainable mobility solutions, 2getthere, has been awarded the contract to deliver a new automated vehicle system in Dubai that will link new waterfront lifestyle destination Bluewaters with the city’s network of metro stations. The project is part of Dubai’s objective to have 25 per cent of all trips completed by automated systems by 2035. The new transport system will have a capacity of 5,000 people per hour per direction, with the automated vehicle connection between Bluewaters and
March 14, 2017
Intel to acquire Mobileye
Intel Corporation has entered into negotiations to acquire Israeli computer vision and machine learning company Mobileye, in a deal which brings together Mobileye’s computer vision expertise with Intel’s computing and connectivity expertise to create automated driving solutions from cloud to car. The two companies expect the combination to accelerate innovation for the automotive industry and position Intel as a provider in the fast-growing market for highly and fully autonomous vehicles. Intel estimate
March 13, 2017
Bartco UK and MVIS achieve ISO Registration
Variable message sign (VMS) and ITS solutions manufacturer, Bartco UK and sister company, Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS) have achieved ISO registration in quality and environmental management. Bartco UK and MVIS, which supplies Bartco UK ITS on a rental basis, have been registered by the NQA against the provisions of standards BS EN ISO 14001:2015 in environmental management and BS EN ISO 9001:20115 and National Highways Sector Scheme 8 in quality management. The quality certification provid
March 13, 2017
SEPTA expands travel wallet availability
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is expanding its travel wallet availability, enabling more passengers to use the SEPTA Key Card for tap-and-go travel. Customers who currently use tokens, paper transfers or pay with cash can transition to the Key. The Travel Wallet will automatically deduct single-rides at the discounted token rate and process transfers. This travel wallet expansion moves SEPTA further toward full implementation of the Key, while giving customers time to tra
March 13, 2017
BMW to utilise Here Open Location Platform to develop digital services
Automaker BMW Group is to utilise the Here Open Location Platform for the development and launch of its new digital driving services. By leveraging the next generation of Here's platform, BMW aims to create differentiated location-enriched services from the data generated by its connected cars and the Here data network. This includes combining car sensor data with other data streams available through the platform, such as from cities and the broader Internet of Things to build services using a powerfu
March 13, 2017
California grants Uber driverless car permit, releases autonomous vehicle regulations
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued Uber with another permit to put its driverless cars back on the state’s roads, according to Reuters. Obtaining the permit also marks a concession for Uber, which had fought California regulators over the requirement and initially refused to apply for the US$150 permit. Following a disagreement with regulators last December when Uber argued that its cars do not meet the state's definition of an autonomous vehicle because they require constant mo
March 13, 2017
First eVolt charge point installed for Electric Nation
The first eVolt smart electric vehicle (EV) charge point has been installed at a residential property outside Nottingham for the Electric Nation trial, which is seeking to find a smart charging solution that will better manage local level power distribution at peak times. According to eVolt, the eMobility brand of the Swarco Group, research suggests that some of the UK’s local electricity networks will need intervention to enable motorists to charge EVs at home at peak times. It indicates that at least U
March 10, 2017
Remote monitoring, maintenance and repair From Siemens
We look at Siemens’ common Remote Service Platform (cRSP) which provides automatic monitoring, preventive maintenance and, if needed, remote repair services for the connected customer facilities. It won’t replace the screwdriver or technician, but it will make their work so much easier as many failures can now be solved via remote maintenance. The platform has been certified by external audits and meets the highest security standards so that it can also be used for monitoring power stations and large med
March 10, 2017
A view of mobility for the next generation
We wanted to know what mobility will look like for the next generation, so we asked those who would be shaping and using it – the next generation themselves. A group of students studying under Professor Dr Regine Gerike at Technical University Dresden gave us a wide range of stimulating responses. See our website for the full discussion:
March 10, 2017
USDOT webinar: variable speed limits – are they for everyone?
The USDOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building program will host a free webinar, ‘Variable Speed Limits: Are They for Everyone?’ on Tuesday, 4 April from 1300 to 1430. The webinar will be hosted by Jimmy Chu, a transportation specialist for the Federal Highway Administration's Traveller Information Management Team. Variable speed limit (VSL) systems use information on traffic speed, occupancy, volume detection, weather, and road surface condition to determine appropri
March 10, 2017
Mercedes drivers benefit from TomTom Traffic service
Real-time TomTom Traffic information is now available in more than one million Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles. The traffic service covers Mercedes-Benz vehicles purchased on three continents: Europe, North America and Africa. 500 million phones, cars and portable navigation devices provide GPS data points to help create the TomTom Traffic service, which is available in 54 countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Mercedes-Benz has been implementing TomTom Traffic in its cars with navigati
March 10, 2017
Upgrades to public transport across Regional Victoria
The Victorian government in Australia has released a tender for its Road and Rail Minor Works Program, which aims to deliver new car parks, more comfortable waiting areas and better passenger information at train stations across rural and regional Victoria. It also aims to improve cycling infrastructure at stations with new, secure bike cages and hoops to make it easier to ride to the station and catch the train. The US$17 million (AU$22.5 million) program will also upgrade bus stops, signage and acce
March 10, 2017
Renault joins forces with CNRS on autonomous vehicle research lab
Renault and Heudiasyc, a joint research unit formed by UTC (Université de Technologie de Compiègne) and research organisation CNRS, are creating a shared research laboratory known as SIVALab, to be based in France. The research unit will deploy a four-year research programme to study and develop autonomous vehicle systems with a view to offering greater accuracy and reliability. In addition to sensors, data will be sourced and analysed from pre-defined navigation maps and dynamic connections from other u
March 10, 2017
More than 3,000 GB road bridges are ‘substandard’
More than 3,000 council-maintained road bridges in Great Britain are substandard, according to a report by the RAC Research Foundation. Analysis of data received from 199 of the 207 local highway authorities in England, Scotland and Wales found that 3,203 structures over 1.5m in span are not fit to carry the heaviest vehicles now seen on our roads, including lorries of up to 44 tonnes. The 3,203 bridges represent about 1 in 23 of the roughly 72,000 bridges to be found on the local road network. Many o