* Posts worst Q1 operating profit since June 2012 quarter * Mazda’s global vehicle sales down 12% in Q1 * Strong yen vs euro, Australia dollar also hurts profit (Adds results details) By Naomi Tajitsu TOKYO, Aug 1 (Reuters) – Mazda Motor Corp reported a 79% drop in quarterly operating profit, falling significantly short of… Continue reading UPDATE 1-Mazda Q1 profit disappoints, hurt by weak U.S., China sales
Tag: Possible_Terrorism_Warfare
Tesla Will Pay Shanghai $323 Million In Taxes Due To Gigafactory 3
You have to be pretty confident in success to accept such a bill… Anyone in doubt if Tesla is one of the big guys in the automotive industry’s neighborhood or not can check its deal with the Shanghai government for Gigafactory 3. Tesla has simply agreed to pay 2.23 billion renminbi – $323 million –… Continue reading Tesla Will Pay Shanghai $323 Million In Taxes Due To Gigafactory 3
Cruise’s Modified Strategy Marks A Mega Phase Shift In Self-Driving Car Industry – Forbes
Cruise, the self-driving car element of GM, made an announcement that could be seen as a healthy sign that the driverless car industry is embracing the tech race and now the trust race too. Photocredit: AP When you are knee-deep in a particular industry it can be difficult at times to notice when an overall… Continue reading Cruise’s Modified Strategy Marks A Mega Phase Shift In Self-Driving Car Industry – Forbes
Bergmeister ADR 630 Shooting Grand Plugs Austro Daimler Back To Life
Shooting brake can run up to 155 miles just on its batteries juice. Electric mobility is allowing lots of defunct brands to raise from the dead. Take Hispano Suiza, but it is not the best example. The company is currently going through a fight for its brand that threatens to kill it again. Let’s get… Continue reading Bergmeister ADR 630 Shooting Grand Plugs Austro Daimler Back To Life
Nissan to cut 12,500 jobs as crisis deepens after profit wipe out
YOKOHAMA (Reuters) – Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) unveiled its biggest restructuring plan in a decade, axing nearly a tenth of its workforce and flagging possible plant closures to rein in costs that ballooned when Carlos Ghosn was CEO. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa attends a news conference to release first quarter earnings at the company headquarters… Continue reading Nissan to cut 12,500 jobs as crisis deepens after profit wipe out
The Austro Daimler Bergmeister is a 1,198bhp plug-in hybrid – Top Gear
If you’re a keen follower of ultra-exclusive concours events, you may have noticed the car above at Villa d’Este earlier this year. It’s the snappily-named Austro Daimler Bergmeister ADR 630 Shooting Grand. There’s plenty of Mercedes SLS and AMG GT in the styling with those gullwing doors and long bonnet, and the double-bubble roof and shooting… Continue reading The Austro Daimler Bergmeister is a 1,198bhp plug-in hybrid – Top Gear
Lyft poaches Bird’s head of vehicle product
Shared electric bike and scooter services are constantly at war with each other — whether it’s battling for an operating permit in a highly coveted market, raising a massive round of funding or making a key hire. Today, the war continues with Lyft’s recent hiring of Eugene Kwak, Bird’s now-former head of vehicle product. Kwak’s… Continue reading Lyft poaches Bird’s head of vehicle product
Wednesday Morning Auto News, Jul 24, 2019
Gloomy day for Daimler, Nissan, but PSA roars – Reuters: Daimler and Aston Martin struggle, Nissan plans yet more job cuts – but Peugeot owner PSA is one automaker to defy gloom in the sector. Francis Maguire …
GM’s Driverless-Car Unit Cruise Delays Robot-Taxi Service – Wall Street Journal: General Motors’ driverless-car business, Cruise, will delay the roll out of an autonomous ride-hailing *service* scheduled for late this year, underscoring the …
Porsche tops J.D. Power study of most appealing new vehicles – Automotive News: Ram was the most improved brand and ranked highest in the mass-market segment while Ford Motor Co.’s brands received five model-level awards in the annual study of new-vehicle appeal.
European car giants Peugeot SA and Daimler show signs of fighting back amid global auto slowdown – Barrons: Peugeot maker PSA defied the global auto slowdown with a 10.6% profit rise in the first half of the year, while Mercedes owner Daimler’s stock rose on a more …
German carmaker BMW considers China as very strong driver of technology – Xinhua | English.news.cn – Xinhuanet: China is a very strong driver of technology, a spokesperson of German carmaker BMW told Xinhua on Wednesday. “We strongly …
PSA seeks European company legal status following Opel/Vauxhall takeover – Automotive News: Automaker says move will reflect group’s European scope following the takeover of Opel/Vauxhall.
Man jailed for 15 years for driverless car bomb plot – Guardian: A man who plotted a terrorist attack involving the use of a bomb inside a remotely controlled vehicle has been jailed for 15 years. Counter-terrorism …
Uber Drivers Lose Suit Over ‘Racist’ UK Environmental Fee – Bloomberg: It’s the latest stage of a long-running battle between those working for the ride-hailing firm and traditional cabbies, which has spilled from the city’s …
Brexit auto industry fears heightened with Boris Johnson becoming UK prime minister – Automotive News: Britain’s incoming prime minister has shown little sign that he takes the car industry seriously, having once said he knows about how to run an automaker than …
Why the UK auto industry will not welcome a Boris Johnson gov’t – Automotive News: … radio interview that he knew more about how to run an automaker than Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth, who had just warned about job losses.
Daimler’s Q2 loss triggers more cost-cutting, product review – Automotive News: Daimler is battling slower demand in China and the U.S., along with huge costs to develop electric cars and regulatory scrutiny over its diesel emissions.
NHTSA says it is reviewing complaints of faulty Ford transmissions – Freep: Congressional leaders urged the review after a Free Press investigation found Ford sold the vehicles knowing their transmissions were faulty.
Nissan Braces for More Pain as Weak Profits Force Restructuring – Bloomberg: Nissan Motor Co. confirmed reports of a 90% drop in quarterly operating profit and a broader restructuring a day before posting results, underscoring the …
Tesla`s Ability to Make Money Is Under Spotlight as Results Loom – Bloomberg: Tesla Inc. sold a record number of cars during the second quarter. But did the company make enough money while doing so?
Breakingviews – If only James Bond could rescue Aston Martin – Reuters: If only James Bond could rescue Aston Martin Reuters(Reuters Breakingviews) – If only James Bond could come to the rescue of Aston Martin. The British maker of 007’s legendary sports car is struggling. With the …
German Car-Parts Maker Put Up for Sale Amid Spat Between Owners – Bloomberg: German auto parts maker Weber Automotive GmbH has been put up for sale as part of insolvency proceedings that started this month, according to a …
Uber Freight launches in Germany, taking on local competition – Reuters: U.S. ride-hailing company Uber is launching a freight platform in Germany, taking on local technology startups in a race to grab a share of Europe’s $500 billion trucking market.
Daimler CEO says there are no plans to pursue a merger or spin-off – Reuters: Daimler has no plans to spin off its trucks division or to pursue a merger with BMW as a way to raise the company’s share price, Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius said on Wednesday.
Toyota’s Thailand unit retains domestic car sales forecasts – Reuters: (Corrects date in dateline). BANGKOK, July 24 (Reuters) -. * Thailand’s total domestic cars sales for 2019 are still projected at 1 million units, down 3.8% from …
Aston Martin Plunges After Cutting Vehicle Sales Forecast on Challenging Outlook – Bloomberg: Aston Martin Lagonda cut its full-year sales forecast by as much as 14% after weakness in key markets intensified, joining a range of carmakers to warn of a …
Aston Martin cuts 2019 forecasts on UK, Europe weakness – Reuters: IndiaLuxury carmaker Aston Martin on Wednesday lowered several of its forecasts for this year, saying it had been hit by macro-economic uncertainty and weakness …
Nissan to Report 90% Plunge in Profit, Report Says – Bloomberg: Nissan Motor Co. will report a drop of about 90% in its fiscal first quarter … global alliance between Nissan, Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
Carmaker PSA defies gloom in auto sector with record profits – FT: French carmaker PSA posted record profits for the first half of 2019, bucking the gloom across the sector, as cost controls and the rollout of new models …
PSA Group profit jumps on pricing, Opel synergies – Reuters: French carmaker PSA Group delivered a sharp increase in first-half profit, as new models and the integration of Opel-Vauxhall more than made up for weaker emerging-market sales.
Nissan shares edge up on reports it will cut 10000 jobs – FT: … come as Hiroto Saikawa, Nissan’s chief executive, has struggled to stem the fallout from the arrest and ousting of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn.
Peugeot Maker Improves Profit Margins on More Costly Models – Bloomberg: Peugeot maker PSA Group’s profit margin widened to a record in the first half of the year through the sale of more expensive models, although the French …
Daimler Q2 hammered by Takata, diesel charges – Reuters: Luxury carmaker Daimler said it would intensify cost cuts after legal risks for diesel-related issues and the cost of replacing Takata airbags triggered a 1.56 …
Augmented Reality Is Now in Your Phone, Eyeglasses and Car – Washington Post: If you dodged real-world trash cans to chase virtual monsters during the Pokemon Go craze, you experienced augmented reality. Sixty years after …
US Truck Driver Shortage Is On Course to Double in a Decade – Bloomberg: Women make up less than 7% of drivers, and the industry is pushing to entice more with technology that makes trucks easier to drive and more …
Japan’s Nissan to double global job cuts to over 10,000 – source – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co Ltd plans to expand job cuts to over 10,000 to help turn around its business, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, showing the tough road ahead for an automaker grappling with management upheaval.
Lyft makes self-driving research public to speed development – The Detroit News: It”s the largest such trove of data made available to researchers and rivals, Lyft said
Uber, Lyft Rides May Be Taxed Under San Francisco Measure – Bloomberg: Uber, Lyft Rides May Be Taxed Under San Francisco Measure. By … Ride-hailing customers may be forced to pay a new tax in the city where the …
Corrected: Nissan plans to cut over 10,000 jobs globally – Kyodo – Reuters: Nissan Motor Co Ltd is planning to cut more than 10,000 jobs globally as part of efforts to turn around its business, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, citing company sources.
In win for Ford, Fed Circuit won’t extend ‘functionality’ defense to patent law – Reuters: The doctrine of aesthetic functionality, which limits the trademarking of the functional features of a product, does not extend to design patent law, a federal …
Harley-Davidson gets EU approval for plan to dodge $100 million tariff hit – Latimes: Harley-Davidson Inc.’s highly contentious plan to dodge tariffs by shifting some production overseas has been green-lighted just as the iconic …
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AEye Redefines the Three “Rs” of LiDAR – Rate, Resolution, and Range
Company’s Intelligent Sensor Extends Metrics for Evaluating Automotive LiDAR System Performance
Pleasanton, CA – July 18, 2019 – In a new white paper released today, artificial perception pioneer AEye proposes newly extended metrics for evaluating advanced LiDAR system performance. Industry leaders recognize that the conventional metrics of frame rate, angular resolution, and detection range currently used for evaluating LiDAR performance no longer alone adequately measure the effectiveness of sensors to solve real world use cases that underlie autonomous driving. In response, AEye has proposed three new extended metrics for LiDAR evaluation: intra-frame object revisit rate, instantaneous enhanced resolution, and object classification range. The AEye white paper describes these capabilities and why they matter within the context of real-world automotive applications.
“Current metrics used for evaluating LiDAR systems designed for autonomous driving often fail to adequately address how a system will perform in real-world conditions,” said AEye co-founder and CEO, Luis Dussan. “These extended metrics are more apropos to measuring advanced LiDAR performance, and are key to evaluating systems that will solve the most challenging use cases.”
First generation LiDAR sensors passively search a scene and detect objects using scan patterns that are fixed in both time and in space, with no ability to enhance performance with a faster revisit nor to apply extra resolution to high interest areas like the road surface or intersections. A new class of advanced solid-state LiDAR sensors enable intelligent information capture that expands the capabilities of LiDAR and moves from passive “search” or detection of objects to active search and, in many cases, to the actual acquisition and classification attributes of objects in real-time making perception and path planning software safer and more effective.
Extended Metric #1: From Frame Rate to Object Revisit Rate
It is universally accepted that a single interrogation point, or shot, does not deliver enough confidence to verify a hazard. Therefore, passive LiDAR systems need multiple interrogations/detects on the same object or position over multiple frames to validate an object. New, intelligent LiDAR systems, such as AEye’s iDAR™, can revisit an object within the same frame. These agile systems can accelerate the revisit rate by allowing for intelligent shot scheduling within a frame, with the ability to interrogate an object or position multiple times within a conventional frame.
In addition, existing LiDAR systems are limited by the physics of fixed laser pulse energy, fixed dwell time, and fixed scan patterns. Next generation systems such as iDAR, are software definable by perception, path and motion planning modules so that they can dynamically adjust their data collection approach to best fit their needs. Therefore, Object Revisit Rate, or the time between two shots at the same point or set of points, is a more important and relevant metric than Frame Rate alone.
Extended Metric #2: From Angular Resolution to Instantaneous (Angular) Resolution
The assumption behind the use of resolution as a conventional LiDAR metric is that the entire Field of view will be scanned with a constant pattern and uniform power. However, AEye’s iDAR technology, based on advanced robotic vision paradigms like those utilized in missile defense systems, was developed to break this assumption. Agile LiDAR systems enable a dynamic change in both temporal and spatial sampling density within a region of interest, creating instantaneous resolution. These regions of interest can be fixed at design time, triggered by specific conditions, or dynamically generated at run-time.
“Laser power is a valuable commodity. LiDAR systems need to be able to focus their defined laser power on objects that matter, said Allan Steinhardt, Chief Scientist at AEye. “Therefore, it is beneficial to measure how much more resolution can be applied on demand to key objects in addition to merely measuring static angular resolution over a fixed pattern. If you are not intelligently scanning, you are either over sampling, or under sampling the majority of a scene, wasting precious power with no gain in information value.”
Extended Metric #3: From Detection Range to Classification Range
The traditional metric of detection range to may work for simple applications, but for autonomy the more critical performance measurement is classification range. While it has been generally assumed that LiDAR manufacturers need not know or care about how the domain controller classifies or how long it takes, this can ultimately add latency and leave the vehicle vulnerable to dangerous situations. The more a sensor can provide classification attributes, the faster the perception system can confirm and classify. Measuring classification range, in addition to detection range, will provide better assessment of an automotive LiDAR’s capabilities, since it eliminates the unknowns in the perception stack, pinpointing salient information faster.
Unlike first generation LiDAR sensors, AEye’s iDAR is an integrated, responsive perception system that mimics the way the human visual cortex focuses on and evaluates potential driving hazards. Using a distributed architecture and edge processing, iDAR dynamically tracks objects of interest, while always critically assessing general surroundings. Its software-configurable hardware enables vehicle control system software to selectively customize data collection in real-time, while edge processing reduces control loop latency. By combining software-definability, artificial intelligence, feedback loops, with smart, agile sensors, iDAR is able to capture more intelligent information with less data, faster, for optimal performance and safety.
AEye’s iDAR system uniquely architected to scale from modular ADAS solutions to fully integrated mobility/robot-taxi implementations. In order to deliver automotive-grade ADAS solutions at scale, AEye has partnered with top Tier 1 global automotive suppliers such as Hella, LG Electronics, and Aisin to design and manufacture best-in-class ADAS systems to global automakers. In addition, the company is engaged in pilots with more than a dozen non-disclosed OEMs and mobility companies.
“To create an effective sensing system, two things matter most – the quality of the data and the speed at which you can make it actionable,” said AEye Co-Founder and SVP of Engineering, Barry Behnken. “Performance metrics matter because they determine how designers and engineers approach problem-solving. These extended metrics help the industry focus on what matters most.”
About AEye
AEye is an artificial perception pioneer and creator of iDAR™, a perception system that acts as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. Since its demonstration of its solid-state LiDAR scanner in 2013, AEye has pioneered breakthroughs in intelligent sensing. The company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and backed by world-renowned investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Taiwania Capital, Hella Ventures, LG Electronics, Subaru-SBI, Aisin, Intel Capital, Airbus Ventures, and others.
Media Contact:
AEye, Inc.
Jennifer Deitsch
[email protected]
925-400-4366
AEye Redefines the Three “Rs” of LiDAR – Rate, Resolution, and Range — AEye Sets New Benchmark for LiDAR RangeAEye Advisory Board Profile: Luke SchneiderBlair LaCorte Named President of AEyeAEye Team Profile: Vivek ThotlaElon Musk Is Right: LiDAR Is a Crutch (Sort of.)SAE's Autonomous Vehicle Engineering on New LiDAR Performance MetricsLeading Global Automotive Supplier Aisin Invests in AEye through Pegasus Tech VenturesAEye Advisory Board Profile: Tim ShipleAEye Team Profile: Indu Vijayan
Monday Morning Auto News, Jul 22, 2019
UK authorities invest nearly $100 million into electric vehicle research – CNBC: Industry and academia are set to lead the development of the new technologies.
India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank Q1 profit slightly misses estimates – Reuters: India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd reported a 32.7% jump in first-quarter profit, but marginally missed estimates as …
Uber Profit Path Seen Slowed by Riders Taking Cheaper Rides – Bloomberg: Uber Technologies Inc.’s path to profit is likely to be slowed by growing competition as a significant number of customers are willing to wait around for …
Factory strategist Zipse offers BMW a bold way forward – Automotive News: This month, before Oliver Zipse knew that he would be named CEO of BMW Group, he gave an impassioned talk here to the …
Traffic safety agency says its critics are wrong about its lack of toughness – Freep: … defects and must rely too much on car companies, safety advocates say. … “In many cases, we work closely with the manufacturer to raise consumer …
Ford`s Slowing China Business Is Creating Roadblocks for Its Global Ambitions – Wall Street Journal: Ford’s multibillion-dollar push to expand in China this decade has veered off course, leaving it mired in a sales slump that is weighing on its future in the world’s …
Automakers, TRW face US lawsuit over airbag system – Automotive News: Six automakers and supplier TRW face a U.S. federal lawsuit seeking class-action certification over defective airbag control units. The complaint, filed Monday in …
Cummins makes offer for VW’s large engines unit, report says – Automotive News: VW CEO Herbert Diess has vowed to simplify the group which has 12 brands, trucks, buses, motorbikes, cars and electric bicycles as part of its …
Hyundai Motor lays out U.S. recovery plan, places hope on new SUV models – Reuters: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co laid out its U.S. sales turnaround plan on Monday with an expanded line-up of sport-utility vehicles (SUV), after posting its biggest quarterly profit jump in seven years.
S.Korea’s Hyundai Motor posts double-digit growth in Q2 operating profit – Xinhuanet: South Korea’s biggest automaker Hyundai Motor posted double-digit growth in the second-quarter operating profit on …
China Focus: Auto expo shows fierce competition in Chinese market – Xinhuanet: An Liguo, a sales manager from Changan Automobile, a major domestic brand, said that many consumers in China hunt for bargains and value both …
Korean Boycott Could Spread to Japanese Luxury Cars – Bloomberg: Japanese luxury cars may also take a hit, said Kwon Soon-Woo, an analyst at SK Securities. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have a …
Hyundai Motor Q2 net profit rises 31.2%, new models boost domestic sales – Reuters: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co on Monday said second-quarter net profit climbed 31.2%, as a weaker local currency …
Jaguar Land Rover is recycling more plastic – Autocar:
Europe Plans to Use the US Election to Beat Trump’s Trade War – Bloomberg: While the daunting threat of U.S. tariffs on Europe’s auto industry and other measures is very much alive, one line of thinking in the EU is that Trump …
Israeli startup uses artificial intelligence to predict auto crash injuries – Freep: Carmakers are investing millions in an Israeli startup is using big data to predict what kind of injuries drivers have sustained after an accident.
Toyota teases its plans for Olympics in Tokyo – Automotive News: Toyota’s plan to showcase new mobility technologies at next year’s Summer Olympics is still under construction. But more ideas might be in the works.
New Mini crossovers to fortify brand, BMW says – Automotive News: BMW will double down on its Mini brand with new products, even as customers drift away from small cars.
Outside the norm: ZF’s external airbag predicts crash – Automotive News: When ZF demonstrated its new external airbag in Germany, it was more than a variation on a familiar theme. The new game is all about predictive sensing.
Ford’s sales of big trucks surge after shift to U.S. – Automotive News: Moving production to Ohio from Mexico in 2015 made it easier for dealers to sell and service the F-650 and F-750.
ProPilot 2.0 alters Nissan’s curves – Automotive News: The automaker is discovering that as its self-driving technologies become more sophisticated, it will need to rethink some of its vehicle design touches.
GM CEO to blame for Silverado – Automotive News: The Silverado’s weak performance is the fault of GM’s leadership, writes an Automotive News reader in a letter to the editor.
BMW iNext: electric SUV’s innovative steering wheel revealed – Autocar: Autocar
The ritual dance with UAW begins again – Automotive News: and there are plenty – certainly the most difficult has to be the corruption scandal that the UAW and primarily FCA have …
Aluminum’s carbon footprint is dirty – Automotive News: Global sales of electric vehicles surged 63 percent in 2018 to 2 million – a figure predicted to increase sevenfold by 2025. By 2030, total global EV …
More Americans have died in car crashes since 2000 than in both World Wars – Washington Post: Since January 2000, more Americans have died in car crashes than did in both World Wars, and the overwhelming majority of the wrecks were caused …
US-Japan trade and the auto sector will be high on Abe’s agenda as he claims victory at the polls – CNBC: US-Japan trade and the auto sector will be high on Abe’s agenda as he … kept its armed forces from fighting abroad since 1945, when World War II ended. … Japan has been bracing for U.S. curbs on auto imports as its trade surplus …
Truck platoons can save fuel and combat a rising shortage of drivers – Automotive News: In December 2018, a McKinsey study predicted that any platooning solution that allows trucks to operate without a driver in the second truck would not …
Q&A with Red Whittaker – Automotive News: Self-driving vehicles start with Red Whittaker. … than a decade ago, which helped spark the modern-day push to build autonomous-driving systems.
Why Level 3 automated technology has failed to take hold – Automotive News: Two summers ago, Audi stood on the precipice of an automated-driving breakthrough. Its redesigned A8 sedans contained a system called Traffic Jam ..
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