[231215] #Tesla #WeRide #STRADVISION

1. Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles sold in US to fix system that monitors drivers using Autopilot

• • Tesla is recalling over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. to update software and address a defective system related to the Autopilot feature.
  • The recall follows a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into crashes involving the Autopilot system, some of which were fatal.
  • The software update aims to increase warnings and alerts to drivers and restrict the areas where basic versions of Autopilot can operate.
  • Safety experts, while acknowledging the recall as a positive step, criticize it for not addressing the fundamental issue of Tesla’s automated systems failing to detect and respond to obstacles.
  • The recall covers Tesla models produced between October 2012 and December 2023.
  • Critics argue that the update is a compromise and doesn’t address the lack of necessary hardware, such as night vision cameras.
  • The investigation into Tesla crashes remains open, with NHTSA monitoring the effectiveness of Tesla’s remedies.
  • NHTSA has investigated numerous Tesla crashes involving automated systems, with at least 17 reported fatalities.

2. WeRide Brings Self-Driving Vehicle Testing to Singapore

• • WeRide, a self-driving tech company, has been granted permits to test its autonomous vehicles (AV) on public roads in Singapore.
  • The licenses (M1 and T1) from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore allow WeRide to operate AVs in four countries: China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
  • The licenses were obtained after testing the WeRide Robobus at Singapore’s Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN) since late August, replicating typical urban traffic scenarios.
  • WeRide claims “international leadership” in Level 4 driving, focusing on static obstacle recognition and dynamic obstacle avoidance.
  • The three-month period to obtain licenses is the shortest on record, enabling larger-scale testing on public roads in Singapore.
  • WeRide operates in various locations globally, conducting autonomous testing and operations in 26 locations, primarily in China.
  • The company’s tech is applied to a range of vehicles, including Robobus, Robotaxis, Robovan, and Robosweeper street cleaners.

3. STRADVISION to Unveil Next-Gen ‘3D Perception Network’ and Showcase SVNet Portfolio at CES® 2024

• • STRADVISION, an automotive industry innovator in deep learning-based vision perception technology, is set to unveil the ‘3D Perception Network’ at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.
  • The ‘3D Perception Network’ represents a transformative leap in autonomous systems, enhancing the role of cameras in the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD).
  • The technology utilizes LiDAR sensors during development but eliminates the need for in-vehicle LiDAR, showcasing STRADVISION’s commitment to cutting-edge, practical, and economical ADAS/AD applications.
  • Key highlights of the ‘3D Perception Network’ include higher scalability, reduced post-processing complexity, an expanded role for cameras in vision, enhanced cost efficiency, and improved accuracy.
  • The technology introduces a 30% decrease in ARM resource usage, ensuring flexibility across various platforms and optimizing efficiency for the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) era.
  • The implementation of the ‘3D Perception Network’ reduces post-processing code complexity by 50%, simplifying integration and maintenance processes.
  • The technology enhances cost efficiency, making it an economically viable choice for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) looking to integrate advanced ADAS/AD technologies.
  • The accuracy of the ‘3D Perception Network’ is improved, reducing detection errors by 10% and boosting detection stability by 30%.

4. Self-driving car safety training on driver’s license tests starting next year

• • The National Police Agency in South Korea has announced the ‘Road Traffic Safety Promotion Strategy for the Era of Full Autonomous Driving.’
  • The plan is divided into three phases: Phase 1 (2023-2025) involves Level 3 vehicles, Phase 2 (2026-2027) focuses on Level 4 buses and shuttles, and Phase 3 (from 2028) aims at Level 4 passenger vehicles.
  • Autonomous vehicle traffic safety education will be added to the curriculum for new drivers starting next year.
  • In Phase 1, responsibilities for managing safe operations will be clarified, and a verification system will be established. Sanctions, including penalty points and fines, for violations by autonomous driving systems will be established by 2025.
  • In Phase 2 and 3, infrastructure initiatives include a nationwide real-time signal information collection system (from 2027) and a comprehensive traffic information platform (post-2028).
  • A ‘simplified driver’s license’ for vehicles with a certain level of autonomous driving systems is set to be introduced in 2028.
  • The National Police Agency plans to enact the ‘Autonomous Vehicle Operation Safety Act’ to outline compliance requirements and legal responsibilities.
  • Also, research and development projects and a dedicated organization for autonomous driving-related road traffic policies will be expanded.

5. LTE-V2X to be laid down in Korea’s autonomous driving telecommunication

• • The national next-generation intelligent transportation system (C-ITS) communication method, after more than four years of debate, has been decided as ‘LTE-V2X’ in Korea.
  • The Ministry of Science and ICT and (MSIT) the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) plan to set LTE-V2X as the single communication method and revise technical standards based on the decision of the ‘C-ITS Single Communication Method Decision Expert Committee.’
  • The decision marks the resolution of a six to seven-year debate between the Wi-Fi-based wave and the cellular-based LTE-V2X camps.
  • Despite the decision, actual investment in LTE-V2X infrastructure is expected to take time, with standards and planning scheduled for next year.
  • MLIT plans to conduct empirical tests to establish installation standards, considering factors such as spacing on actual roads and compensation for interruptions in tunnels.
  • The investment in C-ITS services, crucial for the safety of autonomous vehicles and general car drivers, is expected to increase with the decision on the communication method.
  • However, LTE-V2X infrastructure’s actual deployment on roads is anticipated to take nearly a year, involving demonstrations, standardization, and planning.