News

TRW Automotive Holdings is developing its second generation scalable airbag control unit (ACU) designed for the growing low-cost vehicle and emerging markets. This intelligent solution allows the ACU to be adapted within a vehicle platform to offer two options – standard and enhanced – for models sold within emerging territories and also for those exported to developed markets.

Through an innovative research project across several industries, Ericsson claims it will bring mobile connectivity to electric cars and put choice and control over the charging schedule into the hands of drivers. The new architecture allows drivers to control charging of cars while they are plugged into any ordinary power outlet. Additionally, the system directs energy costs to the car owners’ bill. The driver sets the time and amount to charge on a console in the car or remotely via a smartphone or tablet

The San Francisco Bay Area’s 511 traveller information system is now offering its first smartphone app for transit users. The free 511 Transit App can be downloaded through the Android Market with a version for iPhone 4 to be released soon. The new app provides door-to-door transit trip planning and scheduled departure times for transit routes near your location or from a location you specify. It includes information for 720 routes and more than 23,700 transit stops throughout the region. An interactive, dy

GPS personal tracking devices and applications are forecast to grow with a CAGR of 40 per cent, with both markets breaking $1 billion in 2017, new research by ABI Research claims. Senior analyst Patrick Connolly says, “The hardware market remained below 100,000 units in 2011. However, it is forecast to reach 2.5 million units in 2017, with significant growth in elderly, health, and lone worker markets. Dedicated devices can offer significant benefits, with insurance and liability increasingly encouraging th

Panasonic Corporation has announced that it will supply lithium-ion battery cells for Ford Motor Company's hybrid and plug-in hybrid electricvehicles (PHEVs). The upcoming models of the Ford Fusion Hybrid Electric and C-Max Hybrid Electric as well as the Ford Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids will use Panasonic battery cells in combination with a gasoline engine

IBM and the City of Zhenjiang, China, have announced that IBM is helping to transform the city's public transportation system. Zhenjiang will use hardware, software, services and technologies from the company’s research labs, all brought together through the IBM intelligent operations centre (IOC) for smarter cities, a solution that will serve as the central point of command for the city.

France-headquartered ASK, a specialist in mass transit contactless smart cards, has been selected by its client system integrator Sonda to deliver the contactless cards for Panama’s brand new Metrobús network. The central American city is undergoing major modernisation of its public transport system with brand new buses, Metrobús, and a brand new Metro which is currently under construction.

Navfree has announced it has reached its goal of building a 5.5 million global strong GPS navigation user base, to rival Nokia’s GPS navigation. Navmii, which launched the application two years ago, claimes it is now the number one mobile GPS navigation app in nine countries, and it is growing by 500,000 new users per month on iPhone and Android.

Trimble is partnering with Equity Red Star, a major UK insurer, to provide in-vehicle telematics technology and GeoManager driver safety solution. It will form part of Equity Red Star’s new risk and vehicle management solution, Equitrack, for the commercial motor and motor fleet sectors.

Protean Electric, a specialist in advanced in-wheel motors for the automotive industry, has been awarded 17 patents for the unique technology and design of its Protean Drive system. More than 60 additional patent applications have been filed internationally and with specific countries in North America, Europe and Asia. Protean Electric chairman and CEO Bob Purcell says his company’s in-wheel motor design is unlike conventional motors or combustion powertrains with electric motors added. "We started with a c

Boomerang Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of fully automated robotic parking and self-storage systems, has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Stokes Industries, a veteran parking industry provider with over 25 years experience in mechanical parking solutions throughout the world. The two companies have formed a joint venture that will provide the North American market with a full line of mechanical parking products and services, including design, engineering, installation a

Volvo Car Corporation warns that EU targets for cutting carbon dioxide emissions are being jeopardised by the absence of harmonised incentives to consumers. Another key issue is the urge for continuous support to automotive research and development, including electromobility. Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation, told an industry seminar in Brussels yesterday that jobs, investment and competitiveness in the European car industry could be threatened by the European Commission's approach

Autoliv has announced it has developed a completely new concept for inflating airbags that is more environmentally friendly and more cost efficient than traditional inflator technologies. In addition, it reduces the inflator’s weight by 20 per cent compared to most inflators for the intended application.

Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), a leader in the design and development of robotic laser surveying and mapping technology, has acquired 100 per cent share in Thomas Engineering (TEC) Manotick, Ottawa, the company’s Canadian technical and distribution facility, as part of its strategy to create a global laser measurement, manufacturing and distribution and services business. The multi-million dollar acquisition enables MDL and TEC to launch a new business, MDL Canada, which will focus on sales and service to t

PTV has unveiled what it claims is a major new innovation: map& guide internet, the first cloud-based transport route planner. Hauliers and logistics companies may now use the map&guide software as a service (SaaS). They can simply plug in and use the software directly over the Internet - saving time and money, since neither installation nor maintenance is required. PTV says the inexpensive solution, costing just €49 (US$65) per month, is particularly attractive for small and medium-sized businesses.