Self-driving Vehicles

These being pandemic times, a recent visit to the Silicon Valley offices of drone startup Skydio involved slipping past dumpsters into the deserted yard behind the company’s loading dock. Moments later, a black quadcopter eased out of the large open door, sounding like a large and determined wasp. Skydio is…

With each passing day, the federal government’s pathetic response to the coronavirus pandemic becomes more and more outlandish. We have never seriously tried to implement a federal testing and tracing effort that might slow the virus’s rampages. We have forced workers to choose between risking their lives at work and…

Waymo’s self-driving software footprint is expanding — this time in a partnership with Volvo Car Group. The two companies announced Thursday an “exclusive” partnership to integrate Waymo’s self-driving software into a new electric vehicle designed for ride-hailing. Volvo and Waymo provided few details on the partnership and what this might…

Dust storms make driving dicey, even for self-driving cars. Getty Meteorologists are closely following some mega-sized dust plumes that are slowly drifting from the Sahara Desert and for which those murky clouds have already descended upon the normally scenic Caribbean islands, causing tourists and locals alike to find themselves immersed…

Lyft is using data collected from drivers on its ride-hailing app to accelerate the development of self-driving cars. Lyft’s Level 5 self-driving car program is using the data to build 3D maps, understand human driving patterns and improve simulation tests — all tools needed to push their autonomous vehicle technology…

Lyft also explains that it conducts different kinds of tests to ensure the safety of its technology, including simulations, closed-course testing and on-road operations. At this point, the vehicles already being tested on the road have human operators and co-pilots onboard and are focused on collecting data and metrics. Finally,…

Sunak may cut VAT and pump billions into the economy Rishi Sunak is willing to slash VAT and pump billions into the economy, reports The Sunday Times. As social distancing rules are lifted, the chancellor is considering options to reduce the sales tax, including a cut in the headline rate,…

BMW and Mercedes may have also been too ambitious. When they announced the collaboration last July, they said their goal was to start selling Level 4 self-driving cars, with the ability to handle freeway driving and parking on their own, by 2024. Automotive executives like Ford CEO Jim Hackett have…

German automaker BMW has announced that it will freeze its self-driving technology development program with Mercedes-Benz after a steep plunge in demand for its vehicles due to the coronavirus. BMW will also get rid of 6,000 jobs, which accounts for 5% of its global employment force of 120,000 people. The…

RTHK's satirical show, Headliner, will be airing its last show on Friday night after three decades, amid controversy over its criticism of the police force. The public broadcaster has decided to suspend its production after the Communications Authority issued a warning saying a February episode "denigrated and insulted" the police.…