New Investments in Trucking Logistics
Posted on Jul 26, 2017
A trucking logistics company, called Convoy, recently raised a new round of funding, and its investors include Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. Convoy’s software links up truckers with nearby shipping jobs, in what has been billed as “Uber for trucking.” (Uber itself now has a similar service, called Uber Freight.) The company bills itself as helping the trucking market cut costs and pollution. It plans to expand from the Pacific Northwest into other parts of the country and to continue developing its software.
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No Driverless Cars in India?
Posted on Jul 26, 2017
The transport minister of India recently stated that the country would not allow driverless cars. India’s Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways, and Shipping stated, “We are not going to promote any technology or policy that will render people jobless.” Instead, he said that the ministry would open driver training institutes and develop its own driver aggregation app in order to meet the demand for commercial drivers.
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House Subcommittee Panel Unanimously Approves Self-Driving Legislation
Posted on Jul 20, 2017
The Energy and Commerce Committee’s Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection panel unanimously approved a bill that would be Congress’s first attempt at adopting laws for autonomous vehicles. The bill’s bipartisan support was due in part to the Republican leadership’s adoption of Democratic proposals on safety oversight by federal regulators. In essence, the bill would allow manufacturers to get their self-driving cars on the road and would preempt state rules on mechanical, software, and safety systems for these vehicles. It includes a directive to the National Highway Traffic Safety...
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Elon Musk Discusses Risks Posed by Artificial Intelligence
Posted on Jul 19, 2017
At the recently held National Governors Association meeting, Elon Musk told U.S. governors that artificial intelligence is a “fundamental existential risk for human civilization”—far beyond existing concerns about the impact of automation on the U.S. job market. Specifically, he raised concerns about the way that regulation for new technologies has been reactive rather than proactive, and cautioned the governors not to allow such technology to develop unfettered. One effort that Musk has undertaken in this area is to invest in a project designed to make artificial intelligence technology...
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Volvo Announces Shift Towards Electric Engines
Posted on Jul 5, 2017
Volvo announced on Wednesday that all new Volvo models would be either fully electric or a hybrid starting in 2019. Volvo is the first major auto maker to announce intentions to abandon combustion engines which have been the standard in the industry for more than a century. Hakan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, said in a statement that the move “marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car,” reiterating his target of selling one million electric cars and hybrids by 2025. The shift to electric vehicles comes as manufacturers have been dealing with the...
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Videocast: Connected and Automated Cars—The Federal Government Addresses Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Posted on Jun 29, 2017
Connected and automated vehicles are being built with components that enable them to not only access information, but also collect, store and transmit data for performance and safety purposes as well. Furthermore, these vehicles are expected to produce an enormous amount of data, some of which will be personal and sensitive, such as precise real-time geolocation data and the contents of communications that result when drivers connect their mobile phones to a vehicle’s computer system. In their videocast, Connected and Automated Cars—The Federal Government Addresses Cybersecurity and Data...
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Automation’s Impact Across A Wide Range of Industries
Posted on Jun 22, 2017
It is becoming clear that the development of autonomous vehicles will have implications beyond the automotive industry alone. In a recent article, Mike Nelson and Trevor Satnick of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP provide insight into those implications with regard to areas such as auto insurance, ethical issues, big data, urban and suburban planning, and artificial intelligence. For example, the article posits that individuals in the future may be able to hail autonomous vehicles the same way they currently hail an Uber or Lyft ride. If so, the availability of such services could change the...
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The FTC and NHTSA Plan Workshop on Vehicles and Cybersecurity
Posted on Jun 21, 2017
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are hosting a public workshop to discuss consumer privacy issues posed by technological developments in vehicles, particularly those with some form of wireless connectivity. The potential dangers to consumers from such connected vehicles are significant, as one estimate provides that by 2020 autonomous vehicles will generate about 4,000 gigabytes of data a day (about as much data as is generated by 3000 individuals through their computers and other devices). The workshop will cover what data should...
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University of Michigan White Paper Aims to Build Accelerated Evaluation Processes for Autonomous Vehicles
Posted on Jun 20, 2017
The University of Michigan recently published a white paper aimed at accelerating the development of autonomous vehicles through more efficient testing processes. The paper identifies a significant problem in getting autonomous vehicles on the road: how to develop tests to accurately represent real-world driving situations? The approach suggested by the paper essentially focuses on “break[ing] down difficult real-world driving situations into components that can be tested or simulated repeatedly.” According to the paper, the suggested approach will cut the time to evaluate safety...
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Texas Law Permits Free Operation of Autonomous Vehicles
Posted on Jun 20, 2017
A bill recently signed in Texas, which becomes effective in September, allows autonomous vehicles to operate freely on state roads–without a driver’s supervision. The law requires the autonomous vehicles to be in compliance with federal laws and safety standards, to be registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, to be covered by insurance, and to have a recording system. The law is part of an effort to foster innovation and prepare for developments in autonomous vehicles. With the passing of this bill, Texas became one of eighteen states that have passed autonomous...
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Maine Passes Bill Mandating Shop Choice Disclosure for Insurers
Posted on Jun 15, 2017
Both houses of Maine’s legislature have passed a bill specifying language an insurer must use in recommending auto body shops. According to the bill, titled an Act to Protect Consumers’ Freedom of Choice in Auto Collision Repairs, an insurer must say the allowing if recommending a particular shop or network of shops to a customer: “You have the legal right to choose a motor vehicle collision repair shop to fix your vehicle. Your policy will cover the reasonable costs of repairing your vehicle to its pre-accident condition no matter where you have you repairs made.” The bill now goes to...
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Artificial Intelligence: Not Just for Driving
Posted on Jun 8, 2017
Could artificial intelligence be coming to an insurance company near you? Some insurers are beginning to explore the use of “chatbots” and other forms of AI to assist in the claims and underwriting process. In the auto claims context, a bot could be used to connect to the electronic devices in a connected car and transmit information directly to the insurer. It could also be used to assist customers with simple matters, such as updating them on the status of a claim. In the underwriting context, a chatbot could walk customers through the quote process.
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New Regulations for Ride-Sharing in New York
Posted on Jun 8, 2017
New York’s Governor Cuomo has announced new regulations governing ride-sharing in the state. The regulations require that certain information be provided in the ride-sharing app to protect customers, including a photo of the driver, information about the vehicle, the vehicle’s license plate number, and the fare or estimated fare for the trip. To be licensed, ride-sharing companies must submit an application, initial fees, and annual renewal fees. They must also hold liability insurance of $1.25 million per accident and must provide workers’ compensation coverage for drivers. Drivers...
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Updated Federal Guidelines for Autonomous Vehicles
Posted on Jun 5, 2017
The Trump Administration will be revising federal guidelines governing self-driving vehicles in the coming months. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stated that the new rules were intended to support innovation, new entrants into the market, and safer vehicles; however, she did not specify what the new rules would provide. Some industry participants have expressed concerns about the requirements of the prior administration’s automated vehicle guidelines. Those range from concerns about providing data on program development to concerns about states establishing mandatory...
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