[240213] #Waymo #Plus #RoboSense

1. Crowd sets Waymo self-driving vehicle ablaze in San Francisco

• • A crowd in San Francisco vandalized and set fire to a Waymo self-driving car using a firework, marking a severe attack on autonomous vehicles in the U.S.
  • The incident occurred during the celebration of China’s Lunar New Year in the city’s Chinatown district.
  • Witnesses reported people jumping on the car’s hood, breaking its windshield, and vandalizing it with graffiti, leading to the vehicle being engulfed in flames.
  • Waymo stated that someone threw a firework inside the vehicle, igniting the fire, but did not provide details on what caused the attack.
  • The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the incident, and it remains unclear if any arrests have been made.
  • The incident comes amidst previous instances of harassment against self-driving cars, including attempts to block their paths and disrupt their operations.
  • The severity of this incident highlights growing public hostility towards autonomous vehicles, potentially fueled by previous accidents involving such vehicles, including a pedestrian-dragging accident in 2023.
  • Following the 2023 incident, California suspended driverless testing licenses for Cruise, another autonomous vehicle company.
  • Despite challenges and incidents, autonomous vehicles, mainly from Cruise and Waymo fleets, traveled nearly 3.3 million miles in California in the previous year.

2. Plus Named 2024 Edison Awards Finalist for Innovative Autonomous Driving Software

• • Plus, a global autonomous driving technology company, has been named a finalist in the 2024 Edison Awards in the Innovation category for its PlusDrive® solution.
  • PlusDrive® is a driver-in Level 2++ solution that helps accelerate the deployment of semi-autonomous features in next-generation vehicles and paves the way for fully autonomous vehicles in the future.
  • Shawn Kerrigan, COO and Co-Founder at Plus, expressed gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the impact of their innovations on driving safety and environmental sustainability.
  • The Edison Awards™ recognize the most innovative products and business leaders globally, with nominations evaluated based on concept, value, delivery, and impact.
  • Plus offers a full suite of driver-in to driver-out products built on its Open Platform for Autonomy, with Level 4 autonomous driving software as the common base.
  • PlusDrive® is already being deployed in the U.S. and Europe, with PlusDrive-enabled vehicles used for commercial freight delivery in the U.S. since 2021 and PlusDrive®-enabled trucks being tested in Germany.
  • Plus’s Level 4 solution, SuperDrive™, is deployed with global commercial vehicle OEMs and infrastructure providers.
  • Plus’s autonomy partner approach eases OEMs’ transition to increasing levels of autonomy and accelerates their product development.
  • The Edison Awards recognition adds to Plus’s list of prestigious industry awards, acknowledging its pioneering autonomous driving technology and commercial applications in the transportation sector.

3. California bill would give local municipalities more control over AV cars

• • A bill in California aims to give local municipalities more authority over autonomous vehicle (AV) regulation, backed by the Teamsters Union, citing concerns over safety and community impact.
  • The Teamsters argue that driverless vehicles, such as those operated by Waymo and Cruise, “wreak havoc” on the state’s roads, leading to opposition against expanded AV operations.
  • The debate arises as AV technology advances, with applications ranging from public transit, like robotaxis, to freight transportation, such as self-driving trucks.
  • Several AV firms are partnering with trucking fleets and shippers to run pilot programs across various states, leading to increased concerns and opposition from organizations like the Teamsters.
  • In South Dakota, a proposed bill allowing AVs to operate without a human operator behind the wheel faces opposition from the Teamsters, reflecting broader concerns about AV safety and regulation.
  • California’s Senate Bill 915, introduced in January 2023, seeks to grant municipalities greater authority to require local approvals for AV operations, aiming to protect communities from potential risks associated with AV deployment.
  • The Teamsters oppose this move, citing concerns about robotaxis’ safety record, including incidents of pedestrian accidents, interference with first responders, and traffic congestion.

4. ISEE Unveils Auto-Coupling System for Autonomous Yard Trucks

• • At the Manifest supply chain technology showcase, ISEE, an autonomous vehicle company, introduced its fully automated, AI-powered trailer auto-coupling system for autonomous yard trucks.
  • ISEE’s technology enables the autonomous coupling of trailers and connection of airlines without the need for trailer modifications, adapters, markers, or remote control.
  • The system integrates a six-axis robotic arm on the back of the autonomous yard truck cab, equipped with AI-powered auto-coupling technology to identify precise locations and orientations of trailer air connectors.
  • Leveraging experience and data from over 10,000 operational moves, ISEE’s AI-powered system autonomously identifies and connects airbrake lines, eliminating the need for remote control or additional adapters.
  • Automating the trailer coupling process enhances safety and simplifies management by eliminating the need for manual coupling and decoupling of trailer airlines, reducing the risk of injuries for truck drivers.
  • Yibiao Zhao, ISEE CEO and co-founder, highlighted the company’s generative AI models for data augmentation and feature generation, enabling adaptability and versatility across diverse gladhand variations and environmental conditions.
  • The new AI-powered trailer auto-coupling technology complements ISEE’s existing auto-coupling solution, which utilizes trailer adapters to standardize various trailer connectors in a consistent location.
  • Customers can choose the level of trailer automation they prefer, with ISEE’s solution suitable for those controlling their fleet or using a captive pool of trailers for their campus.

5. Lotus Sports Cars Adopts Lidar Tech Developed by RoboSense in Plymouth Township

• • Lotus, a luxury auto manufacturer based in the UK, has launched its first fully electric sedan, the Emeya, equipped with RoboSense’s M Platform Lidar sensors in Plymouth Township.
  • The Emeya is the second Lotus vehicle to incorporate RoboSense’s M Platform sensors, with the Eletre, Lotus’s first electric hyper SUV, also utilizing these sensors.
  • Lotus selected RoboSense’s automotive-grade M Platform sensors to enhance the Emeya’s intelligent driving systems, following nearly three years of testing by global automakers.
  • The M Platform sensors, featuring RoboSense’s proprietary chip technology, were specifically developed for advanced driver assistance applications and autonomy systems.
  • RoboSense’s M Platform sensors provide a wide field of view (120 degrees x 25 degrees) and can capture precise, high-resolution 3-D data, enabling detection of roadway objects up to 200 meters away in low-light and nighttime conditions.
  • The Emeya utilizes RoboSense’s Lidar technology to implement adaptive driving beam technology, enhancing low-light perception and reducing glare from oncoming vehicles.
  • The M Platform sensors offer a dual-echo mode, generating over 1.5 million data points per second, enhancing the vehicle’s navigation capabilities across various driving scenarios, including urban environments, winding roads, highways, and parking.