[240119] #Seyond #Ouster #TuSimple

1. Ranix signs MOU with Chinese company to collaborate on autonomous driving

• • Ranix has signed an MOU with United Micro Technology (UMT) for a partnership collaboration in autonomous driving.
  • The collaboration focuses on the development of 5G-NR-V2X solutions, connecting vehicles through fifth-generation mobile communication technology.
  • Ranix will provide 5G-NR-V2X modem chip technology, and UMT will contribute Uu red cap technology for the development of new products.
  • The agreement includes the establishment of a global market sales partnership for V2X solutions, covering regions such as Korea and China.
  • UMT, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is a global high-tech company specializing in cellular IoT solutions, with R&D centers and offices in various countries.
  • Ranix, founded in 2003, is a V2X chip and solution company. They previously announced the development of a 64 QAM radio, with the 5G NR V2X chip expected to be introduced later this year.
  • UMT expresses anticipation for developing and introducing 5G-enabled autonomous driving solutions with Ranix’s expertise in automotive system semiconductors.

2. Seyond and Avikus Partner to Propel Autonomous Boating with LiDAR Technology

• • Seyond, formerly Innovusion, is collaborating with Avikus to integrate its Falcon LiDAR sensor into autonomous boating solutions, aiming to enhance safety and intelligence in the recreational boating industry.
  • Avikus selected Seyond’s LiDAR for its precise detection, superior navigation, and enhanced autonomous functionality, with the first boat models featuring a 500-meter detection range expected to launch in the summer.
  • Seyond is a world leader in high-performance LiDAR solutions, with a strong presence in various sectors, including automotive, intelligent transportation, robotics, and industrial automation, and over 200,000 Falcon units in current use.

3. Deep-In-Sight signs MOU with Ouster

• • Deep-In-Sight, an AI-based 3D sensing solution startup, has signed a strategic technology cooperation MOU with US lidar company OUSTER at CES 2024.
  • The collaboration aims to develop and promote LiDAR-based 3D scanners for acquiring 3D spatial information in various sectors, including construction, architecture, proptech, and interior.
  • Deep-In-Sight will work on advancing and stabilizing the technology of DIMENVUE, an Ouster LiDAR-based handheld 3D spatial information scanner.
  • DIMENVUE is an ‘all-in-one’ device that miniaturizes Ouster lidar and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery; the RGB image data acquired through lidar enables object labeling and segmentation through artificial intelligence (AI) learning; the device selectively monitors and captures necessary spatial information in real-time, providing both 2D and 3D drawing information.
  • The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of DIMENVUE in both domestic and global construction and interior markets.
  • Deep-In-Sight and Ouster plan to create synergies by identifying new opportunities for joint product development based on Ouster Lidar; the companies will collaborate on sales and marketing efforts to combine Ouster Lidar with AI 3D camera technology for future technology solutions.
  • Deep-In-Sight showcased other solutions at CES 2024, including CAMOSYS (automotive in-cabin monitoring system), ROUNVUE (3D Surround View Monitoring), and VOMASYS (volume measurement solution for logistics and transportation).

4. TuSimple is leaving the Nasdaq as it exits the US

• • Chinese autonomous trucking startup TuSimple is set to delist from the Nasdaq stock exchange, marking its complete exit from the U.S. market.
  • TuSimple will file a Form 25 around January 29 to deregister its stock, with shares expected to trade until about February 7.
  • Reasons for delisting include a decline in valuation and liquidity, increased stock price volatility, and a belief that the benefits of remaining publicly traded no longer justify the costs.
  • TuSimple, which went public in 2021 with a valuation of over $8 billion, is now worth around $70 million, with shares trading at approximately 30 cents.
  • A significant shift in capital markets since TuSimple’s IPO is cited, attributed to rising interest rates and quantitative tightening, impacting investor sentiment for pre-commercialization technology growth companies.
  • TuSimple faced scrutiny before going public, leading to investigations by the FBI and SEC, and co-founder Xiaodi Hou was pushed out in late 2022 during the investigations.
  • The company struggled with strategy, reduced headcount, and narrowly avoided forced delisting in May 2022.
  • TuSimple decided in late 2022 to fully exit the U.S. market and focus on China, with assets, including trucks and lidar sensors, now going up for auction.

5. Self-driving police patrol cars tested on Beijing roads

• • The Beijing high-level autonomous driving demonstration area has initiated road tests for unmanned police patrol cars, marking the first of its kind in China.
  • Fifteen self-driving patrol cars with Level 4 autonomous driving technology, capable of performing round-the-clock police duties, are deployed in the Yizhuang autonomous driving demonstration area.
  • The patrol cars, developed by Neolix, can complete battery replacement in 30 seconds and have a driving range of 100 km.
  • Duties being tested include patrolling, ensuring security for large-scale events, public announcements, issuing warnings, and emergency rescue work.
  • The vehicles feature a 360-degree multi-sensor fusion perception capability with a detection range of up to 120 meters, ensuring driving safety through real-time response based on road conditions.
  • The unmanned vehicle team will patrol a 60-square-kilometer area in the demonstration zone.
  • The Beijing autonomous driving demonstration area, initiated in September 2020, covers 160 square kilometers with intelligent connected roads and a dedicated smart city network.
  • Currently, 28 vehicle testing companies operate in the area, with over 800 vehicles engaged in testing and commercial exploration, accumulating a test mileage exceeding 20 million kilometers.