Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2016
SmartDrivingCars-????-021816
Thursday, March 3, 2016
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN: How we found (and lost) the dream of Personal Rapid Transit
A. Robertson, Feb 10 , Feb. "...Half a century after its
heyday, the Alden StaRRcar clearly wasn't made for its world.
It looks like a white flatiron with wheels or a sleek, plastic
bullet, dwarfed by the regal sedans of 1960s Detroit. It
belongs in one of Buckminster Fuller's domed cities, a vehicle
for traveling under the geodesics of a bubble-topped
Manhattan. Its future wasn't one of highways, but of narrow
cement tracks looping gracefully between city and suburb,
connecting increasingly alienated parts of the American
landscape...
Once considered a key to solving urban blight, the StaRRcar
was part of a public transit revolution that never was — but
one that would help launch one of the weirdest and most
politicized public infrastructure experiments of the 20th
century. It's an old idea that today, in an age of
self-driving cars, seems by turns impractically retro and
remarkably prescient...
PRT's invention is attributed to a transportation expert named
Donn Fichter, but the central idea was conceived, remixed, and
adapted by many in the 1950s and 1960s. While the details
varied, the prototypical PRT system was a network of narrow
guideways populated by small passenger pods. When commuters
arrived, they would hit a button to select a destination,
calling one of the pods like a taxi. Then, instead of running
on a set line, the pod would use guideways like a freeway
system, routing around stations in order to take passengers
directly to their final stop.
The system was designed to be everything that existing public
transportation wasn't. Pods would carry only as many people as
an average car, guaranteeing a nearly private ride. Riders
wouldn't need to follow a timetable or wait for other people
to enter and exit the system. Because the pods would only be
dispatched on demand, cities could run service to many
low-traffic areas without worrying about waste. There were no
drivers to train or pay, and the pods could run quietly on
electrical power instead of with fossil fuels...
Multiple plans for personal rapid transit fell through,
whether because of budget problems, logistical issues, or
political power struggles....
And as in the '60s, we're talking about whether self-driving
vehicles could spell the end of private cars...."[Read more](http://orfe.princeton.edu/%7Ealaink/SmartDrivingCars/PDFs/The%20road%20not%20taken%20_%20The%20Verge.html)Hmmmm...A must
read. Pretty much as I remember it. I lived much of it,
including designing 10,000 station, 10,000 mile PRT
networks that could serve all of New Jersey's needs for
personal mobility. The good news was that the area-wide
systems would provide great mobility for all. The bad
news: No viable way to start. The best starting places
could each be readily served by conventional systems with
no technology risk. Without a place to start, PRT never
got a chance to flourish in the vast areas that are
un-servable by conventional technology. Moreover, PRT
needed the diversion of public sector capital funds that
weres already in the back pocket of those
pedaling the conventional technologies. Consequently,
the personal auto has reigned on.
Today is different. With PRT, even the first vehicle needed a couple of stations and interconnecting guideway (and all of the discussion and heartache was about the location and cost of those initial stations and guideway). With autonomous taxis sharing existing roads, one can begin with a single vehicle capable of serving many existing places without needing to pay-for/justify any infrastructure. That is today’s
fundamental opportunity,
in contrast to PRT's monumental infrastructure burden
even for one vehicle. That's why aTaxis are destined to
finally deliver PRT's utopian mobility to all and
substantially transform our cities and suburbs. Alain
Google self-driving car crashes into a bus (update: statement)
J. Fingas, Feb 29 "It may be the first instance of a Google
autonomous car being at fault in an accident...." [Lexus RX450h 2/14/16 DMV Report signed by Chris Urmson](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/3946fbb8-e04e-4d52-8f80-b33948df34b2/Google+Auto+LLC+02.14.16.pdf?MOD=AJPERES) [Read more](http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/29/google-self-driving-car-accident/)Hmmmm...had to
happen, but it was at 2mph. No big deal. Alain
ATRI SOLICITING TRUCKING INDUSTRY CRASH COST DATA FOR NEW RESEARCH
Press Release, March 2, “The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today launched a new data collection initiative to create a database of motor carrier crash costs by crash type and severity. This data collection will populate ATRI research designed to enable carriers to make better informed Onboard Safety System (OSS) deployment decisions.
This request for data is targeted toward motor carriers.
ATRI is also working with its insurance industry
partners to complete the crash cost database. [Read more](http://atri-online.org/2016/03/02/atri-soliciting-trucking-industry-crash-cost-data-for-new-research/) Hmmm... the operative
word are "...working with its insurance
industry partners ..." to
properly determine what is "self-insured" and what was
covered by insurance for the accident histories of the
trucks that have and have not the
various OSS. Alain
Scania and Ericsson join forces to improve transport efficiency
Press release, Feb 25, "...New developments in LTE and 5G
standardization have created opportunities for dedicated
vehicle-to-vehicle communications using the mobile network
while minimizing risks of unpredictability and latency...." [Read more](http://www.ericsson.com/news/1989100)Hmmmm...You mean they are doing it
without "FHWA"?! :-) Alain
Varden Labs demonstrates self-driving shuttle at Fresno State
Feb 23, "Silicon Valley-based [Varden Labs](http://vardenlabs.com/) showed off its
electric, autonomous shuttle at Fresno State, . Rides were given to students, staff and media. The
demonstration is part of a series of events hosted by the
university's Lyles College of Engineering to commemorate
National Engineers Week." [Read more](http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article62075392.html)Hmmmm...See video to
view early version of an emerging product. Alain
NVIDIA Puts Pedal to the Metal in New Jersey, Opens Auto Tech Office in Storied Bell Labs Site
Feb 23, "This week, NVIDIA is opening a new office in New
Jersey, where we'll focus on developing software for
self-driving cars on our artificial intelligence DRIVE PX
platform. AI and deep learning are playing a critical role in
advances in driver assistance and ultimately autonomous
vehicles.
The new NVIDIA space, coincidentally, is in the former Bell
Labs building, in Holmdel, New Jersey, where deep learning
pioneer Yann LeCun invented convolutional networks back in the
late 1980s. These networks are instrumental to deep learning
in general, and to the work of our team in particular." [Read more](http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article62075392.html)Hmmmm...Given the
work that we are doing at Princeton University in Deep
Learning ([DeepDriving](http://deepdriving.cs.princeton.edu/))
and that of MobilEye's Andras Ferencz
who works in Princeton, the addition of NVDIA's intiatives
in this are make New Jersey is the focal center of
image-based software for SmartDrivingCars. :-) Alain
DOT opens competition for transportation research grants
Fastlane, Mar.1, “…up to $377.5 million will be available over 5 years to support solution-oriented transportation research at colleges and universities under our University Transportation Centers (UTC) program. For Fiscal Year 2016, that’s a substantial investment of up to $72.5 million in the talent and ingenuity cultivated in American higher education.
… letter of intent by April 1, 2016, and an application for funding by May 13, 2016. Applicants will compete to join one of 35 UTC consortia; each focused on a major national transportation topic, such as transportation safety or freight mobility…“ Read moreHmmmm…OK. Alain
Responsibility for Vehicle Security and Driver Privacy in the Age of the Connected Car
ICI Opinion, Feb. 2016, “The Connected Car is one of the primary use cases for the Internet of Things (IoT). Yet it is one of the least well understood in terms of cybersecurity. Recent media coverage has exposed critical vulnerabilities to the software that improves performance of the vehicle and the experience of the driver. Similarly, personal data may be collected from cars — for legitimate purposes — that could compromise the privacy of drivers. Veracode commissioned this study to explore how manufacturers are addressing these issues and to understand whether drivers are concerned
about them....to shed light on:
What are the cybersecurity implications of the connected
car?
Who is responsible for ensuring the applications are secure?
Where does product liability lie with regard to the
connected car?
What are the issues and approaches for personal data and
privacy?
What types of applications that are drivers demanding? "
Read more Hmmmm…Very interesting, but it fails to properly differentiate between “on-board-autonomous-collision-avoidance/ lane-keeping/self-driving” focused on enhancing safety versus “travel-tainment” -oriented connectivity. In my simple way of thinking it will be a very long time before “connectivity” has any impact on safety. By its nature “connectivity” delivers nothing by itself. It needs essentially everyone to be “reading from the same song sheet” in order to be effective. If it isn’t essentially all, then it is none! On the contrary, the on-board-autonomous is, by its nature, operating as a one-off in delivering its value. It doesn’t need anything from anybody. Consequently, it is largely immune to the security and privacy issues until the incremental benefits of the connectivity outweigh the security and privacy baggage that it brings along. So for now, it is important to build a strong firewall between the connectivity systems and the “self-driving” systems so as to enable “self-driving” to advance until a time when connectivity has properly addressed the safety and privacy issues, which may not be soon. Alain
Automated Driving & Platooning: Issues & Opportunities
TMC IR 2015-2 "This Information Report is published by ATA's
Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) and examines the
intensive activity in the development and introduction of
Automated Vehicles (AVs) and identifies potential issues and
opportunities for the trucking industry. This report is
intended to promote better understanding of this emerging
technology and serve as a platform for discussing key areas of
interest and concern on the part of commercial fleets. This
report was developed by TMC's Automated Driving and Platooning
Task Force under the auspices of the Council's Future Truck
Committee." [Read more](http://www.atabusinesssolutions.com/Default.aspx?TabID=1415&productId=3095480) Hmmmm...Unfortunately, I
have not been able to get a copy of the report to review
it. The above paragraph is encouraging; however, since
the word "safety" doesn't appear above; nor does
insurance/liability and "platooning" does appear I am
suspicious that this may continuing to miss the miss the
point as to why automation is so vital to improving the
lives of truck drivers and truck owners. :-( However,
there is the [TMC Future Truck Program Position Paper: 2015-3 Recommendations Regarding Automated Driving and Platooning Systems](http://orfe.princeton.edu/%7Ealaink/SmartDrivingCars/PDFs/FT_PP_2015_3.pdf) which refers to this report. ???? )Alain
Geneva: Volvo announces Pilot Assist II updates
Mar. 2, "Volvo Cars has announced a wide range of updates for
model year 2017, including the introduction of its latest
semi-autonomous drive technology, Pilot Assist II, as standard
on the XC90 in selected markets. The introduction of Pilot
Assist II on XC90 is made possible thanks to the modular
approach to car building enabled by Volvo's new SPA
architecture. Introduced first in the new S90 premium sedan,
Pilot Assist II supports drivers up to speeds of 130 km/h in
well-marked highway conditions.
City Safety updated: Volvo has also expanded its safety
technology to cover one of the most common causes of single
vehicle accidents with Run-off road mitigation, which uses
auto-steer to help keep you on the road. Volvo's standard
collision avoidance system, City Safety, also receives an
update with Large Animal Detection added on 90 Series
cars....." [Read mor](http://safecarnews.com/volvo-announces-pilot-assist-ii-updates-fe7262/)e Hmmmm...At least
they are not over-hyping and it operates at speeds up to
130km/hr. Thank you. (If you want to go faster than
130km/hr, please stay far away from me. :-) ) . Alain
STMicroelectronics Reveals Most Highly Integrated Automotive 77GHz Radar Chip for Emerging Long-Range Applications
Press release, Feb 23, "STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a
global semiconductor leader serving customers across the
spectrum of electronics applications and the world's largest
supplier of short- and mid-range (24GHz) radar chips for
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is now supplying
its latest long-range (77GHz) radar chips to leading
automotive customers..."[Read more](http://www.st.com/web/en/press/p3809)Hmmmm...Excellent. Alain
Harbrick Goes West, Harvests Funds
###
Feb 17, “Autonomous driving technology is growing fast, and startups like Harbrick Technologies are growing with it. The developer of the popular middleware plug-in PolySync has raised money, hired top technology executives, and moved to the West Coast, all in the last quarter or so….” Read more Hmmmm…Congratulations!!.
Alain
Some other thoughts
that deserve your attention
Geneva: Volvo announces Pilot Assist II updates
Feb 29, "The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, opening
Thursday, gives the city an Instagram-ready attraction and the
most expensive train station ever... The project's cost
soared toward a head-slapping, unconscionable $4 billion in
public money for what, in effect, is the 18th-busiest subway
stop in New York City, tucked inside a shopping mall, down the
block from another shopping center....Meanwhile, the city has
an Instagram-ready attraction whose defenders insist no one
will remember it is the most expensive train station ever. Who
recalls how much Grand Central cost?
Actually, I do. It cost $80 million, or about half the cost of
the hub, adjusting for inflation, which was private, not
public, money. Grand Central spurred a building boom that
transformed the surrounding blocks and the city's economy.
This new hub is shoehorned into an unfinished office park in
Lower Manhattan whose development it has complicated, not
hastened — while the whole area has been evolving into a
livelier live-work neighborhood despite what's happening at
the World Trade Center, not because of it..."[Read more](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/arts/design/santiago-calatravas-transit-hub-is-a-soaring-symbol-of-a-boondoggle.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=image&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news)Hmmmm...Unbelievable!.
Has the public sector doing anything right lately in the
transportation arena? :-( Alain
Welcome to Competitive Drone Racing
D. Ferry, Mar. 2 "How do you start a new sport from scratch? A
former Tough Mudder executive and other entrepreneurs around
the world are about to find out...."The best drone pilots in
the world have come together here," the reporter intones, "to
face off against one another and a racecourse built for
speed!" The countdown begins: three, two, one! A bell rings
and the machines rise off the launch pad then accelerate
through neon-lit gates, into the concourse, then up a circular
staircase. They hit speeds above 80 mph. Welcome to the
qualifying rounds of the Drone Racing League's inaugural
season..." [Read more](http://www.outsideonline.com/2059086/welcome-competitive-drone-racing)
Hmmmm....Interesting! Certainly a step up from video
games. Alai
Woman, 77, Fatally Struck by Livery Cab in Midtown
N. Remnick, Feb. 29," ...... was crossing Madison Avenue at
36th Street just after 8:30 a.m. on Monday, a few blocks from
her apartment and the costume jewelry company that she started
more than 35 years ago, when a black livery cab turned and
struck her, pinning her under the car...." [Read more](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/nyregion/woman-77-fatally-struck-by-livery-cab-in-midtown.html)Hmmmm....How do these
tragedies continue to plague us when Automated Collision
Avoidance Systems (ACAS) that can mitigate such tragedies
remain sitting on the shelves of the OEMs. These systems
must be adopted NOW. Since NHTSA wont
mandate them, Insurers must make their adoption
"intuitively obvious to the most casual observer"!
Insurance should either cease cross-subsidizing drivers of
so unequipped cars or simply buy the systems for them and
enjoy the cascading increase in profits. It is now
abundantly clear that the insurance risk associated with
a pool of ACAS-equipped vehicles is substantially smaller
than that of a pool of vehicle not-ACAS-equipped.
Moreover, that difference, at least associated with
transit buses, is greater than the market price of the
ACAS option. Insurance rates must begin to reflect this
disparity! Alain
Welcome to the Smart Mobility newsletter
The last few years’ massive work on self-driving vehicles is now changing gear and traditional vehicle manufacturers, like Ford, as well as new players are increasingly looking at using automation to design new mobility services. This newsletter aims to keep its readers abreast of just that; new exciting concepts within the field of Smart Mobility. ..” Read moreHmmmm….Welcome Jan! Alain
Slowly Fulfilling the Promise of Watson
S. Lohr, Feb289 “When IBM’s Watson computer triumphed over human champions in the quiz show “Jeopardy!” it was a stunning achievement that suggested limitless horizons for artificial intelligence.
Soon after, IBM's leaders moved to convert Watson from a
celebrated science project into a moneymaking business,
starting with health care. Yet the next few years after its
game show win proved humbling for Watson. Today, IBM
executives candidly admit that medicine proved far more
difficult than they anticipated. Costs and frustration
mounted on Watson's early projects. They were scaled back,
refocused and occasionally shelved. IBM's early struggles
with Watson point to the sobering fact that commercializing
new technology, however promising, typically comes in short
steps rather than giant leaps..." [Read more](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/technology/the-promise-of-artificial-intelligence-unfolds-in-small-steps.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=wide-thumb&module=mini-moth®ion=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below)Hmmmm...Very
interesting. Alain
When ‘Symptoms of Television’ Began Their Inexorable Spread
N. Bakalar, Feb 29, "It was a problem everyone knew was
solvable, but one that had yet to be solved.
Engineers, inventors and tinkerers had been working on
"telemotion," the "televista," the "photo-telegraph," the
"tele-vision" in various forms, using well-known technologies
and off-the-shelf equipment, since the early 20th century.
The New York Times first mentioned the idea — it was still
only an idea — on Feb. 24, 1907, in an article announcing the
first successful transmission of photographs by wire. "The
new 'telephotograph' invention of Dr. Arthur Korn," the
anonymous reporter wrote, "assures us that 'television,' or
seeing by telegraph, is merely a question of a year or two
with certain improvements in apparatus...." [Read more](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/science/television-history.html?ref=technology)Hmmmm...More
perspective on technological change. Alain
On the More Technical Side
http://orfe.princeton.edu/~alaink/SmartDrivingCars/Papers/
Comments on Proposed AV Regulations in California
R. Peterson, Feb 23, “…Although section 38750 attempts to assign the regulation of “autonomous vehicles” to the DMV, the definition of “autonomous vehicle” was unworkable and outdated soon after its adoption. The definition attempts to draw a distinction between systems that “enhance safety or provide driver assistance” (listing, but not limiting them to a list of systems that existed at the time), but attempts to exclude from these safety enhancing features, those technologies “capable” of driving the vehicle “without active control or monitoring of a human operator.”
There are two faults in this definition. First, it seems to
attempt a distinction between safety enhancing features and
autonomous vehicles. This is a false dichotomy. By taking
drunk, distracted, careless, and sleepy human drivers with
their limited skills out of the primary role of driving,
autonomous technology is safety enhancing. It just happens
to bring in its train a number of additional utilities and
benefits that most safety features do not deliver. This is
hardly a vice.
Secondly, the definition turns on "capability," not the
OEM's purpose or intention. 227.02(d). Almost as soon as
section 38750 was adopted, and before these proposed
regulations were published, vehicles "capable" of driving
themselves within the parameters for which they were
designed were on the roads and legal in every state,
including California. [Read more](http://orfe.princeton.edu/%7Ealaink/SmartDrivingCars/Papers/RPeterson_CA_DMV%20_RegsComments032316.pdf) Hmmmm...Excellent.
Alain
Recompiled Old News &
Smiles:
###
Half-baked stuff
that probably doesn't deserve your time:
ATRI SOLICITING TRUCKING INDUSTRY CRASH COST DATA FOR NEW RESEARCH
Press Release, March 2, “The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today launched a new data collection initiative to create a database of motor carrier crash costs by crash type and severity. This data collection will populate ATRI research designed to enable carriers to make better informed Onboard Safety System (OSS) deployment decisions.
This request for data is targeted toward motor carriers.
ATRI is also working with its insurance industry
partners to complete the crash cost database. [Read more](http://atri-online.org/2016/03/02/atri-soliciting-trucking-industry-crash-cost-data-for-new-research/) Hmmm... the operative word is "...working
with its insurance industry partners ..." to properly determine what is
Self-insured and what was covered by insurance for the
accident histories of the trucks that have and
have not the various OSS. Alain
Nissan Unveil A New Driverless Version of The Qashqai
Mar. 2, "Stage one autonomous drive technology will give
refreshed Nissan Qashqai 'single lane control' in heavy
traffic conditions on highways...." [Read mor](http://thinkinghighways.com/nissan-unveil-a-new-driverless-car-the-qashqai/)e Hmmmm...Headline
grossly exaggerates what's here. Playing catchup, but
far behind. Alain
###
C’mon Man! (These folks
didn't get/read the memo)
###
Calendar
of Upcoming Events:
The Business of Autonomous Vehicles
March 22-23, 2016
Crowne Plaza Hotel, San Francisco Airport
Recent
Highlights of:
#
###
February 25, 2016 [Vancouver councillor wants city to prepare for driverless cars](http://www.vancouversun.com/news/vancouver+city+councillor+wants+study+impact+driverless+cars/11726263/story.html) T. Fletcher, Feb
18 "Driverless cars might
seem like a futuristic
dream, but a city councillor
doesn't want Vancouver to
take a hands-off approach to
the emerging technology.
Coun. Geoff Meggs is
steering a motion slated for
next Tuesday's council
meeting asking city staff to
look into the impact of
self-driving vehicles and
how to maximize the benefits
of the technology for
Vancouver and the city's
economy.
Although the city's
transportation 2040 plan,
which outlines a strategy
for how people and goods
will move in and around
Vancouver for the next 30
years, was adopted only four
years ago, Meggs said it
fails to address driverless
technology.... "It may be a
powerful tool or there may
be problems with it, but at
the moment, it's an empty
category in a lot of our
thinking," Meggs told Metro.
"We don't want our
(transportation) plan, which
we just did, to be
obsolete before it even
starts."..." [Read more](http://www.nsc.org/NewsDocuments/2016/mv-fatality-report-1215.pdf)Hmmmm...Yup!
Obviously, "obsolescence
before ribbon cutting"
is something all cities
should try to avoid.
Alain
February 18, 2016
Motor Vehicle Deaths Increase by Largest Percent in 50 Years
Press Release Feb 16 “With continued lower gasoline prices and an improving economy resulting in an estimated 3.5% increase
in motor-vehicle mileage,
the number of motor-vehicle
deaths in 2015 totaled
38,300, up 8% from
2014.
The 2015 estimate is
provisional and may be
revised when more data are
available. The total for
2015 was up 8% from the 2013
figure. The annual total for
2014 was 35,398, a less than
0.5% increase from 2013. The
2013 figure was 3% lower
than 2012. The estimated
annual population death rate
is 11.87 deaths per 100,000
population, an increase of
7% from the 2014 rate. The
estimated annual mileage
death rate is 1.22 deaths
per 100 million vehicle
miles traveled, an increase
of 5% from the 2014 rate. [Read more](http://www.nsc.org/NewsDocuments/2016/mv-fatality-report-1215.pdf)Hmmmm...This
is REALLY BAD news.
Come on insurance. This
is costing you money!
Accident rates going up
means that your
actuarials are behind,
your regulated pricing
lags and you are losing
money. To get ahead of
your actuarials, you
MUST incentivize the
adoption of automated
collision avoidance
systems. You'll then do
very well, thank you AND
help society. Alain
February 9, 2016
Budget of the U.S. Government, FY 2017
Feb. 9, “…(3) Accelerate the integration of autonomous vehicles, low-carbon technologies, and intelligent transportation systems into our infrastructure….
- Providing almost $400 million on average per year in funding over the next 10 years for the deployment of self-driving vehicles. Investments would help develop connected infrastructure and smart sensors that can communicate with autonomous vehicles, support R&D to ensure these vehicles are safe and road ready, and expand at-scale deployment projects to provide “proving grounds” for autonomous self-driving and connected vehicles in urban and highway settings.
Read moreHmmmm…major
victory...not only: "...for
autonomous
self-driving...", bit
also stated before: "...
and connected...".
Alain
January 28, 2016
London’s first driverless cars revealed
The consortium behind the trial has decided to adapt electric passenger shuttles that are currently in service at Heathrow Airport for use in Greenwich. Unlike the Heathrow pods, they will not need dedicated tracks.
The Greenwich trial is one
of four in the UK to test
driverless technology and
public reaction to
it..."This vehicle has
millions of miles under its
belt and now we have to take
it outside of the track and
modify it for use on
pavements," he added. The
so-called UltraPODs
currently in service at
Heathrow carry passengers
between the car park and
Terminal 5. In the five
years they have been in use,
they have carried 1.5
million passengers and
traveled three million
kilometers (1.8 million
miles)...." [Read more](http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35432687) Hmmm...Wow!!
... PRT
evolving to be
autonomousTaxis!
Wow!!! :-) Alain
January 14, 2016
###
Obama’s $4 Billion Plan for Self-Driving Cars Will Make Google Very Happy
M. Bergen, Jan 14 “The Obama Administration has seen the self-driving future, and it’s jumping aboard. At the Detroit auto show on Thursday morning, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will unveil a plan to develop a national blueprint for autonomous driving technology within the next six months. He will also announce that President Obama is planning to insert $4 billion into the 2017 budget for a 10-year plan to support and “accelerate” vehicle automation projects.
"We are on the cusp of a new
era in automotive technology
with enormous potential to
save lives, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions,
and transform mobility for
the American people,"
Secretary Foxx said in a
statement. ...But here's the
part of Foxx's talk that
really matters for Google:
These national rules will
allow fully driverless
cars..." [Read More](http://recode.net/2016/01/14/obamas-4-billion-plan-for-self-driving-cars-will-make-google-very-happy/) Hmmm...
A [few months ago](http://www.its.dot.gov/press/2015/ngv_tech_announcement.htm) it
was $42M for
Connected Vehicles.
Today it is 100x for
automated vehicles!
Finally Secretary
Foxx.."[YES! YES! JESUS H. TAP-DANCING CHRIST... I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX5tfRdkoY0)"
(Blue
Brothers)
Yea!!!!! :-)
Alain
January 3, 2016
Google Pairs With Ford To Build Self-Driving Cars
J. Hyde & S. Carty, Dec. 21 “Google and Ford will create a joint venture to build self-driving vehicles with Google’s technology, a huge step by both companies toward a new business of automated ride sharing, …According to three sources familiar with the plans, the partnership is set to be announced by Ford at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. By pairing with Google, Ford gets a massive boost in self-driving software development; while the automaker has been experimenting with its own systems for years, it only revealed plans this month to begin testing on public streets in California….
Google already has several
links to Ford; the head of
the self-driving car
project, John Krafcik,
worked for 14 years at Ford,
including a stint as head of
truck engineering, and
several other ex-Ford
employees work in the unit
as well. Former Ford chief
executive Alan Mulally
joined Google's board last
year.
And Ford executives have
been clear for years that
the company was ready to
embrace a future where cars
were sold as on-demand
services. Ford CEO Mark
Fields has repeatedly said
Ford was thinking of itself
"as a mobility company," and
what that would mean for its
business" [Read more](https://www.yahoo.com/autos/google-pairs-with-ford-to-1326344237400118.html) Hmmm...Not
surprising and not
exclusive.
:-) Alain
December 19, 2015
Adam Jonas’ View on Autonomous Cars
Video similar to part of Adam’s Luncheon talk @ 2015 Florida Automated Vehicle Symposium on Dec 1. Hmmm … Watch Video especially
at the 13:12 mark.
Compelling; especially
after the 60 Minutes
segment above! Also see
his [TipRanks](https://www.tipranks.com/analysts/adam-jonas).
Alain
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