Category: Official Press Release

Ford Collaborates with Gravity Sketch to Explore New Tool for Designing Vehicles to Meet Customers’ Needs

right click to download Ford is the first automaker to work with Gravity Sketch – a 3D virtual reality tool that enables designers to come up with more human-centric designs New creative tool enables Ford designers to place the customer at the center of the development process in the creation of new vehicles Ford design… Continue reading Ford Collaborates with Gravity Sketch to Explore New Tool for Designing Vehicles to Meet Customers’ Needs

Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources: only a united Europe can master structural change and safeguard social accord

Kilian commits to intensive efforts for the transformation to e-mobility: “We strive to be pioneers in e-mobility and are therefore investing some €30 billion” Board Member for Human Resources asks political leaders to exercise discretion and use a sense of proportion with regard to the transformation: “If we lose sight of the social factor, we… Continue reading Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources: only a united Europe can master structural change and safeguard social accord

JAGUAR XF AND XF SPORTBRAKE GAIN CHEQUERED FLAG SPECIAL EDITIONS

× {{dictionary[‘Added to your cart’]}} × {{dictionary[‘CART WARNING’]}} {{dictionary[‘Sorry, your cart is currently full. Please remove ‘]}} × {{dictionary[‘Cookie message and title’]}} × Pagination Warning! Sorry, Please add a number less than maximum pages {{dictionary[‘User Licence – pop up text’]}} You have been detected as being located in: {{userLang}} A media site housing news, photo… Continue reading JAGUAR XF AND XF SPORTBRAKE GAIN CHEQUERED FLAG SPECIAL EDITIONS

Via and LA Metro Launch Pilot Program to Evolve Public Transit in Los Angeles

Published January 28, 2019 1:30 pm, Via NYC
Via and LA Metro Launch Pilot Program to Evolve Public Transit in Los Angeles
Via’s shared ride technology will provide first-and-last mile solutions for three key LA areas

Via, the world’s leading developer of on-demand shared transit solutions, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), launch today a pilot program that provides first-and-last mile solutions for public transportation in Los Angeles County. The service utilizes Via’s sophisticated algorithm to dynamically route shared vehicles to-and-from three busy Metro stations– Compton (Artesia), El Monte and North Hollywood. The value of the year-long pilot between Via and Metro is $2.5M, which is funded in part by a $1.35M grant from the Federal Transit Administration.

“Via’s technology is redefining mobility across the globe, and we are thrilled to partner with LA Metro, an innovation-forward agency, to provide residents with a convenient, affordable, and congestion-reducing dynamic transportation alternative,” said Daniel Ramot, CEO and co-founder of Via. “Via’s powerful passenger matching and vehicle routing algorithm is the solution to solving the first-and-last mile challenge, seamlessly integrating into the existing public transit infrastructure to connect residents to transit hubs in their communities.”

“This innovative pilot program will give riders another glimpse into LA’s comprehensive future transportation system. Many Metro users face a challenge getting from home to station and vice versa,” said L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Sheila Kuehl. “They need a quick, easy, and inexpensive door-to-door solution and this new pilot is one to consider.”

How it works:

Using the Via app, or a dedicated phone line for users without access to a smartphone, passengers in the three pilot zones will select their pickup and drop-off locations and confirm their ride. All trips must start or end at the Metro station in the zone. Via’s smart algorithm enables multiple riders to seamlessly share a single vehicle by directing passengers to a nearby corner – a virtual bus stop – allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours that take riders out of their way. This enables Via’s system to transport a high volume of passengers while using a fraction of the number of vehicles utilized by taxis or on-demand car services. A standard trip costs just $1.75 for riders with a TAP card. LIFE participants– Metro’s low-income fare subsidy program– will ride for free. Those who do not provide a TAP number during account registration will ride for $3.75.

Metro designed the pilot to explore how dynamic, on-demand transportation technology can solve a range of mobility challenges. The main goal of the pilot is to extend the benefits of traditional on-demand services to a wider audience by making the service affordable, equitable and accessible. Via accepts by credit, debit or pre-paid cards for unbanked riders. Rides can be booked through Via’s app or call center for riders without smartphones, also providing translation services for non-English speakers. Passengers with additional mobility needs will be able to request an accessible vehicle.

The partnership with Metro follows on the heels of several new deployments of Via’s technology around the world. From Singapore, where Via recently launched a dynamic, on-demand public bus service in partnership with the Land Transportation Authority (LTA) to Arlington, TX where the city replaced its fixed bus line with a fleet of Via’s vehicles, Via now powers on-demand mobility in more than 30 markets around the globe.

“Our goal at Metro, as part of our Vision 2028 plan, is to provide high-quality mobility options for all riders, regardless of socioeconomic status or disability,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “This is an exciting partnership and we believe Mobility on Demand will offer a truly innovative, affordable and accessible service to L.A. County to better serve Metro riders’ first/last-mile needs.”

About Via:

Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform currently operates in the United States, and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to provide the most cutting edge on-demand mobility innovation.

About LA Metro:

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies. Created in 1993, Metro is a multimodal transportation agency that transports about 1.3 million passengers daily on a fleet of 2,200 clean air buses and six rail lines. The agency also oversees bus, rail, highway and other mobility-related building projects and leads transportation planning and programming for Los Angeles County.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

Read more

Continental Secures Follow-On Order for Shanghai Metro, in Turn Helping to Avoid Total Gridlock in China

Original equipment manufacturer CRRC continues to rely on Continental’s products Continental air springs enhance ride comfort on Shanghai’s metro Less noise and vibration in the carriages reduce stress levels Shanghai, January 2019. Technology company Continental has generated long-term business with its railway engineering components, securing a follow-on order for future metro projects in the Chinese… Continue reading Continental Secures Follow-On Order for Shanghai Metro, in Turn Helping to Avoid Total Gridlock in China

These 5 automated technologies provide more headaches than help

When Elon Musk famously said in 2017 that “robots will be able to do everything better than us,” he conveniently neglected to propose a timeframe for that future. Because while automated and autonomous systems have become a common sight in 2019, they don’t all do their jobs better than people could. In fact, many of… Continue reading These 5 automated technologies provide more headaches than help

Cadillac Shows Brand’s First Fully Electric EV

Cadillac Shows Brand’s First Fully Electric EV Cadillac Model Will Be The First Of GM’s Next-Generation EVs 2019-01-13 DETROIT — Cadillac furthered its recent product blitz today with the reveal of the brand’s first EV. This will be the first model derived from GM’s future EV platform. GM announced on Friday that Cadillac will be… Continue reading Cadillac Shows Brand’s First Fully Electric EV

GM Wins IHS Markit Top Loyalty Award for Fourth Year in a Row as My GM Rewards Membership Tops 1 Million

GM Wins IHS Markit Top Loyalty Award for Fourth Year in a Row as My GM Rewards Membership Tops 1 Million 2019-01-15 Detroit — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) has earned the highest customer loyalty among all automakers selling in the United States for the fourth year in a row, IHS Markit confirmed at the Automotive… Continue reading GM Wins IHS Markit Top Loyalty Award for Fourth Year in a Row as My GM Rewards Membership Tops 1 Million

Velodyne Lidar Showcases a Wide Array of Never-Before-Seen Products at CES

Velodyne Lidar Showcases a Wide Array of Never-Before-Seen Products at CESJanuary 3, 2019|In Press Releases|By Albie Jarvis
Velodyne is Everything Lidar, Meeting all Needs for Autonomy and ADAS

Velodyne Velarray’s best-in-class range, resolution, and field of view facilitate robust object detection, allowing for longer braking distance and increased safety.

Velodyne Lidar, Inc. will introduce and demonstrate its breakthrough new lidar sensor technology at CES 2019 in the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, booth #9010. Velodyne will present product demonstrations showing how lidar is advancing vehicle autonomy, safety, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The in-booth press conference will announce exciting collaborations and strategic partnerships, never-before-seen products, and customer achievements on Wednesday, January 9, at 11:00 a.m. PST.

“The new products we are unveiling at CES advance Velodyne’s leadership position in providing the smartest, most powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance”

Velodyne will showcase a wide array of products that fully meet all of the auto industry’s lidar needs, including new products to address directional and short-range sensing with trailblazing technology and performance. Velodyne will also introduce complete lidar-based safety solutions that incorporate Velodyne hardware and software. For more details, please see the Velodyne CES new product release on Tuesday, January 8, at 9:00 a.m. PST.

“The new products we are unveiling at CES advance Velodyne’s leadership position in providing the smartest, most powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance,” said Anand Gopalan, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Velodyne Lidar. “Delivering integrated hardware and software safety solutions is extremely valuable to automakers with the technologies seamlessly working together to provide breakthrough advanced driver assistance systems.”

At CES, live demonstrations of Velodyne’s lidar sensors will show their industry-leading combination of long range, high resolution, and wide field of view. Visitors to the Velodyne booth can experience a lidar point cloud via augmented reality. Velodyne partners also will lead in-booth presentations, unveil new technologies, and demonstrate lidar’s use in autonomy, marine, agriculture, and emerging industries.

Velodyne demonstrations at CES will include:

The Velodyne Alpha Puck sensor is specifically made for autonomous driving and advanced vehicle safety at highway speeds.

Velodyne Alpha Puck™. The culmination of ten years of lidar development and learning from millions of road miles, the Alpha Puck is a sensor specifically made for autonomous driving and advanced vehicle safety at highway speeds. Perfect for Level 4-5 autonomy, the sensor produces an image best described as “stunning,” with the highest resolution data set in the world. It boasts the longest range for highway driving and maximum safety.

Velodyne Velarray™. The Velarray’s best-in-class range, resolution, and field of view facilitate robust object detection, allowing for longer braking distance and increased safety. Designed for seamless vehicle integration, this compact sensor generates a richly-detailed directional image, day or night. It can be concealed within roof lines, in bumpers, and – as demonstrated at CES – behind windshields.

The Velodyne booth will also feature Velodyne’s Augmented Reality demonstration that allows people to experience how autonomous vehicles see the world.

“At CES, people can come to the Velodyne booth to experience how our intelligent lidar sensors are enabling autonomous vehicles on the road today,” said Mike Jellen, president and chief commercial officer of Velodyne Lidar. “They can see how Velodyne’s rich computer perception data helps determine the safest way to navigate and direct a self-driving vehicle. Visitors to our booth can also learn how Velodyne’s versatile lidar sensors are utilized in a myriad of trailblazing applications in addition to self-driving cars and driver assistance, including unmanned aerial vehicles, mapping, industrial safety, robotics, security, and more.”

Velodyne’s Augmented Reality demonstration allows people to experience how autonomous vehicles see the world.

Cutting-Edge Customer and Partner Solutions

Velodyne will present products and presentations from its network of customers and partners that are using lidar technology in a range of innovative solutions. These partners include Accur8vision, AGC, Apex.AI, AutonomouStuff, DeepMap, Local Motors, MechaSpin, and Paracosm.

Accur8vision. Equipped with Velodyne lidar, Accur8vision provides an innovative approach to the security sector. Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that protects an entire area needing to be secured, compared to perimetric detection which only guards the boundary. With Accur8vision and Velodyne lidar sensors, any intruder who enters the guarded area will never go undetected.

AGC. A world-leading supplier of flat, automotive, and display glass, as well as chemicals and other high-tech materials and components, AGC will showcase windshield technology from its WIDEYE task force. Wideye™ is focused on autonomous vehicles and solid-state lidar integration solutions. Combined with the Velarray™ sensor for an interactive demo in Velodyne’s booth, WIDEYE’s infrared transparent automotive-grade glass provides an ADAS and autonomous solution featuring both seamless design and safer perception.

Apex.AI. Apex.AI builds reliable, safe, and certified software for autonomous vehicles and other autonomous mobility systems. Apex.OS is an SDK compatible ROS 2 (Robot Operating System). It provides a production-grade, safety-certified real-time framework for developing safe and secure autonomous vehicle applications. Apex.Autonomy provides functional building blocks for autonomous vehicles on top of Apex.OS, such as libraries for 3D lidar perception including integration of Velodyne lidars.

AutonomouStuff. AutonomouStuff provides the best R&D platforms, products, software, and engineering services to aid in the advancement of robotics and autonomy. The company has provided solutions for automated driving to thousands of customers worldwide. In order to continue to rise up, companies must surround themselves with the best. This industry is no different. That is why AutonomouStuff chooses to surround itself with a market leader like Velodyne.

DeepMap. HD mapping is a crucial piece of the autonomous vehicle stack that needs to be robust, reliable, and highly scalable. DeepMap provides state-of-the-art mapping and localization to autonomous vehicles as a service. DeepMap helps its customers expedite their autonomous vehicle technology development in a safe and scalable way. Velodyne’s lidar is widely used by DeepMap and its customers for autonomous driving as well as mapping and localization.

Local Motors by LMI. Local Motors will show the world’s first co-created, electric, and self-driving shuttle, Olli. On display will be a current R&D prototype made of a nearly 90 percent 3D-Printed Olli and integrates a range of Velodyne sensors. Local Motors partnered with Velodyne to showcase how Velodyne sensors allow Olli to not only see in 360 degrees, but also ensures coverage of multiple overlapping areas at greater distance with more reliability.

MechaSpin. An industry-leading lidar sensor integrator, MechaSpin will showcase how it has utilized Velodyne’s lidar technology to develop an ecosystem of capabilities to provide solutions in the maritime, intermodal, agriculture, and material handling industries. MechaSpin’s proprietary MSx Processing Engine enables rapid adoption and integration of lidar sensor technology for custom applications.

Paracosm. Paracosm, a division of Occipital, develops PX-80, a handheld 3D mapping device that captures large-scale indoor and outdoor spaces in minutes using Velodyne’s Puck™ sensor. Its CES presentation will highlight exciting, real-world customer use cases from scanning aircraft hangars to the Amazon rainforest for a virtual reality film.

For more information on Velodyne and to download news releases, photos, and videos, please visit https://velodynelidar.com/newsroom/. Media can schedule an executive interview or product demo by contacting Robin Carr at Landis Communications Inc. (415-971-3991; velodyne@landispr.com).

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne provides the smartest, most powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies. In 2005, Velodyne’s Founder and CEO, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar systems, revolutionizing perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility, mapping, robotics, and security. Velodyne’s high-performance product line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the cost-effective Puck™, the versatile Ultra Puck™, the perfect for L4-L5 autonomy Alpha Puck™ and the directional view Velarray™.