[230606] #42dot #Innoviz #Hyundai Autoever

1. Hyundai-backed 42dot to set up global software center

• • Hyundai Motor Group’s self-driving mobility unit, 42dot, is establishing a global software center for software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
  • The center aims to enhance the driving experience and enable features such as autonomous driving through software updates.
  • Hyundai has invested 346.2 billion won ($265.1 million) in the first phase and plans to invest a total of 1.5 trillion won by 2025.
  • The location of the overseas software center has not been disclosed.
  • Hyundai aims to develop its own operating system for remote software updates and a successful transition to SDVs.
  • SDVs are described as “smartphones on wheels” where customers can enjoy service improvements through software updates instead of purchasing additional auto parts.
  • The company plans to hire tech talent with experience in software development, autonomous driving, cloud systems, and artificial intelligence from various countries.

2. Swiss National Bank acquires new position in Innoviz Technologies Ltd.

• • Swiss National Bank has acquired a new position in shares of Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: INVZ), according to a recent 13F filing.
  • The bank has purchased 263,700 shares of Innoviz Technologies, valued at approximately $1,036,000.
  • The move by Swiss National Bank demonstrates their investment strategy and increasing interest in the technology sector.
  • Innoviz Technologies specializes in advanced LiDAR technology for autonomous vehicles and challenging conditions.
  • The investment in Innoviz Technologies may be seen as an opportunistic move by the Swiss National Bank.
  • Swiss National Bank owned around a 0.19% stake in Innoviz Technologies at the end of the last quarter.
  • The investment highlights the deep pockets of Swiss National Bank and their willingness to invest in innovative technologies that others may shy away from.

3. Lumotive Partners with Hokuyo to Revolutionize 3D Lidar Sensing for Industrial Automation

• • Lumotive and Hokuyo Automatic have announced a multi-year production contract to deploy essential sensor technology in robotics and autonomous systems applications.
  • Hokuyo will utilize Lumotive’s solid-state beam steering chip to produce a revolutionary 3D lidar sensor for industrial applications, surpassing mechanical lidar and time of flight camera technology.
  • Hokuyo will leverage Lumotive’s manufacturing partners and engineering expertise to bring advanced sensing products to market faster.
  • Lumotive’s LCM technology offers digital beam-steering capabilities, delivering more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective 3D sensing solutions compared to current offerings.
  • Lumotive’s solid-state 3D lidar sensors offer advantages such as a large field of view, extended range, compact form, and superior outdoor performance, making them suitable for integration into various machinery and industrial environments.
  • The partnership with Hokuyo marks a significant milestone for Lumotive in expanding its presence in the industrial automation market and bringing advanced 3D sensing solutions to robotics and autonomous systems.

4. Hyundai Autoever develops indoor parking lot mapping technology

• • Hyundai Autoever has developed indoor parking lot mapping technology for in-car navigation.
  • The technology utilizes an “indoor survey system” with sensors like cameras and lidar to collect parking lot and surrounding information.
  • Data is processed and modeled using the simultaneous location estimation and mapping (SLAM) method.
  • The maps have an accuracy of within a 1-meter error range and are more cost-effective than outsourced field surveys.
  • Hyundai Autoever intends to apply the technology in various sectors, including smart factories, office building safety control, monitoring, and robot movement route control.

5. California lawmakers and AV industry battle for future of self-driving trucks

• • California bill AB 316, which requires a trained human safety operator to be present in heavy-duty autonomous vehicles on public roads, has passed the state’s Assembly and will now be reviewed by a committee in the Senate.
  • Advocates of the bill argue that it ensures road safety and job security for truck drivers, while AV companies and industry representatives believe it hampers technological advancement and competitiveness in the AV and trucking sectors.
  • The bill has been criticized as a preemptive technology ban that could hinder California’s progress in autonomous vehicles and maintain the current safety issues on the roads.
  • If the legislation passes in the Senate and is signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a trained human driver would be required in autonomous vehicles during emergencies, but it does not ban testing or deployment of self-driving trucks.
  • The bill also limits the authority of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to regulate AVs by requiring a report on the performance of AV technology, public safety impact, and employment in the trucking sector by 2029.
  • The report’s findings will inform whether the requirement for a human safety operator in autonomous trucks over 10,001 pounds should be removed, modified, or maintained.
  • If the human safety operator requirement is removed, the DMV would need to wait another year after a legislative hearing to issue permits for autonomous trucks without human operators.
  • Supporters of the bill argue that it allows road safety experts to assess and regulate autonomous trucking more effectively, while critics believe it hinders innovation and puts California at a disadvantage compared to other states.