[240823] #Waymo #Hesai #Huawei

1. Google “going all-in” on self-driving vehicles

• Google’s parent company Alphabet is investing up to $5 billion in its autonomous vehicle unit, Waymo.
• Waymo has achieved significant milestones, including over 2 million trips served and 20 million fully autonomous miles driven on public roads.
• Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed satisfaction with Waymo’s progress, calling it a leader in the autonomous driving space.
• Waymo’s Co-CEOs, Tekedra N Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, welcomed the investment as recognition of the company’s technological progress and commercialization efforts.
• This funding is consistent with recent annual investment levels and aims to solidify Waymo’s position as a leading autonomous driving technology company.

2. Hesai and Westwell Partner to Accelerate Global Expansion in Autonomous Driving for Logistics

• Hesai Technology, a global leader in lidar solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with Westwell, a provider of autonomous driving solutions.
• Westwell will integrate Hesai’s lidar products into its autonomous driving solutions, serving over 200 corporate clients across 20 countries.
• Hesai’s lidars are already being used in Westwell’s Q-Trucks and Q-Tractors, which are deployed in various locations including Felixstowe Port in the UK and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited.
• Westwell’s vehicles are equipped with multiple Hesai XT32 and AT128 lidars, providing high-precision operations in various scenarios.
• The partnership aims to improve efficiency, quality, and reduce carbon emissions in supply chain operations globally.
• Hesai’s lidars are also used in industrial robotics applications such as delivery robots, forklifts, and lawnmowers.
• The two companies have been collaborating since 2018 and plan to continue enhancing product performance and providing efficient, reliable intelligent solutions worldwide.

3. Delivery Robots May See Competition From Robotaxis

• Nuro has received permission from the California DMV to expand testing of its third-generation delivery robot, the Nuro R3, to Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, and Menlo Park.
• The Nuro R3, which features two 27-cubic-foot cargo bays, can transport items at speeds up to 45 mph and is designed for curbside delivery.
• Nuro has partnered with Arm Holdings to commercialize its delivery robots and develop the next generation of its Nuro Driver software, incorporating advanced AI technology for improved perception and behavior capabilities.
• The delivery robot market faces potential competition from robotaxis, with Uber Eats partnering with Waymo for food deliveries in Phoenix using Level 4 autonomous cars.
• Despite the advancements in delivery robots and robotaxis, human drivers are expected to remain a significant part of the delivery workforce for years to come.

4. Self-driving tech company WeRide accelerates global expansion as transportation industry adopts AI

• WeRide is accelerating its global expansion amid the AI boom, enhancing machine learning in transportation.
• The company has begun testing autonomous “Robosweepers” in Singapore and deployed a shuttle bus service at Resorts World Sentosa.
• WeRide has permits for driverless operations in the US, China, UAE, and Singapore, positioning itself as an international company.
• The firm is eyeing expansion into Japan and Europe, having already showcased its technology at the French Open.
• WeRide has filed for an IPO on the Nasdaq, potentially becoming the largest US listing by a Chinese company since Didi’s 2021 IPO.
• The company chose to enter Singapore and the UAE due to their openness to autonomous vehicle technology and their status as regional hubs.
• WeRide emphasizes the importance of government support, established ecosystems, and commercial potential in markets they enter.
• Singapore has been conducting AV trials since 2015, with plans for further implementation, including a self-driving bus trial at Changi Airport.

5. Huawei’s upcoming ADAS software to feature “end-to-end AI”

• Huawei plans to release its Advanced Driving System 3.0 in August, aiming to enhance automated driving capabilities.
• Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution unit, claims this will significantly improve automated driving capabilities.
• The announcement was made in Chongqing, where EV brand Aito (a partnership between Huawei and Seres) celebrated producing its 400,000th vehicle.
• The new driver assistance system will employ an “end-to-end artificial intelligence” strategy, similar to Tesla’s approach.
• Huawei will continue using lidar sensors alongside cameras and radar for environmental navigation.
• A major improvement in user experience is expected by late October or November.