Honda Presents Self-Driving Off-Road Prototype
A new self-driving off-road Honda prototype called the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle will be presented at CES 2019 in early January, where the automaker hopes to find additional partners to evolve the technology. The Autonomous Work Vehicle is based on Honda’s four-wheel-drive ATV chassis and equipped with sensor-based autonomy and GPS that allow it to […]
Merging: The Latest Challenge for Self-Driving Cars
If you were to ask a group of motorists what their least favorite part about driving was, “merging” would probably rank high on their list. Apparently, self-driving cars think merging is tricky, as well. The challenge of merging When a human driver merges their vehicle onto the highway, they have to navigate the “person-to-person ballet” […]
Mcity Uses Augmented Reality to Advance Self-Driving Technology
The University of Michigan has a unique testing site for self-driving vehicles that uses virtual reality. Dubbed “Mcity,” the test facility is a fake city located on North Campus and spans over 16 acres. It was created to give researchers the opportunity to see how autonomous vehicles (AVs) interact with computer-simulated ones. Thanks to […]
Will All Self-Driving Cars React to Police This Way?
As self-driving cars advance in sophistication, a lot of questions come up. Foremost in the public’s mind is undoubtedly worst-case scenarios like those in the Moral Machine experiment. However, there are more mundane, everyday questions to consider, like what a self-driving car will do when an emergency vehicle comes by. Well, now we have one […]
Self-Driving Ethics Part Two: Regional Differences
We reported before this on the Moral Machine, an international experiment that sought to answer one of the big ethical questions facing self-driving vehicles: “If the car has to pick to kill someone, who should it pick?” Previously, we discussed the global trends that people worldwide agreed on. However, there were some fascinating differences when […]
Self-Driving Ethics Part One: What We All Agree On
Ethical questions have long been up in the air surrounding self-driving vehicles. Many of these surround situations like the “trolley problem,” and ask, “If a self-driving car has to choose to between two groups to live, then what should it do?” To answer that question, researchers from MIT, Harvard University, the University of British Columbia, […]
Apple Patents Peloton Self-Driving Car Tech Suite
Apple’s latest patent promises to boost the efficiency and wind resistance of self-driving vehicles. The patent describes a suite of autonomous vehicle technologies that the company has dubbed “Peloton.” Those familiar with cycling will recognize the lowercase version of this term, which refers to a pack of cyclists riding together to improve aerodynamics and efficiency. […]
Ford to Conduct Self-Driving Testing in Washington, D.C.
Sherif Marakby, CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, announced in a post on Medium on Monday that the automaker will become the first to test self-driving vehicles in Washington, D.C. with the establishment of a self-driving vehicle business that will accommodate the needs of residents of the nation’s capital. “The advent of self-driving vehicles promises […]
Study: Most People Think Self-Driving Cars Are Here, Totally Safe
So, according to a new study, apparently 71 percent of people globally think that you can buy a self-driving vehicle right now. A tenth of the people in the study also would totally be cool with having a nap while letting these systems take over. Wide Awake: Engage with your drive in the 2018 Chevy […]
DOT Delivers New Self-Driving Car Testing Guidelines
When it comes to self-driving cars, the federal government takes a largely hands-off approach. One thing it has done, though, is release two sets of voluntary guidelines over the past 2 years. Yesterday, though, the U.S. Department of Transportation ticked that up to three sets of guidelines with “Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated […]
Honda and GM to Invest $2.75 Billion in Self-Driving Tech
Honda announced on Wednesday it took a $750 million equity stake in Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary. Over the next 12 years, two companies will together invest $2.75 billion in the development of self-driving vehicles. “This is the logical next step in General Motors and Honda’s relationship, given our joint work on electric vehicles, […]
Ford Invites Collaboration in Creating Universal Language for Self-Driving Vehicles
In a post on Medium Tuesday, John Shutko, technical specialist for Human Factors and UI Design at Ford Motor Company, issued a call on his company’s behalf for a universal language for autonomous vehicles. “The idea that pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter users should change their behavior to accommodate self-driving cars couldn’t be further from our […]
Complexities of Determining How Self-Driving Cars Impact Disability Mobility
While autonomous vehicle technology is still in the early stages of development, people around the globe are already imagining how convenient self-driving cars will be. Many people imagine the simplicity and ease of allowing a car to take over driving while they watch a movie. Although self-driving cars will make daily commutes more convenient and […]
Trademarks Hint at Future GM AWD and Self-Driving Tech
Sometimes, it’s a lot of fun to speculate about the hidden future of automobiles, and through trademarks General Motors gives us plenty of traction to speculate. Take, for example, two new trademark names from the General: Sport Control AWD and Ultra Cruise. GM filed both of these trademarks on Sept. 20. Looking Ahead: Take an […]
Self-Driving Bus Dust-Up Starts in Columbus
We have known that self-driving vehicle testing was coming for our state’s capital of Columbus, Ohio (The News Wheel operates out of Dayton). We have also known self-driving vehicles will likely replace professional drivers in certain areas, like public transit. Given all that, it is hardly a surprise that Columbus is becoming the site of […]
Japan Will Soon Start Implementing 3D Maps with Self-Driving Vehicles
3D maps that enhance the accuracy of self-driving technology are likely to be put in practical use in Japan by March 2019 – The Japan News https://t.co/a5VGhzdQSM — Jean de Fondaumière (@waugoola) September 22, 2018 Japan is poised to use 3D mapping to enhance self-driving vehicle technology. Per The Japan News, the public will start using […]
San Jose Tests World’s First Self-Driving Grocery Delivery Cars
Self-driving startup AutoX has joined forces with GrubMarket to test drive its fleet of automated grocery delivery vehicles. Advertising its innovative service as “the grocery run of the future,” the company hopes to offer a faster, cheaper alternative to conventional food shopping. AutoX has modeled the cars after traditional autos rather than a sidewalk delivery […]
GPR Military Tech Could Help Self-Driving Cars Better Navigate Snowy Roads
Many autonomous vehicles use a combination of HD map, GPS, and a sensor to detect their surroundings. However, some companies are experimenting with a more advanced radar technology that would enhance AV performance on snowy roads. New startup WaveSense is applying ground-penetrating radar to self-driving cars. MIT Lincoln Laboratory originally developed this technology for the purpose […]