7ITS NEWS

Dubai /18 Jul 2024 /RTA -- Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (#RTA) has been honoured with the #SAS #UAE Award in the category of Innovative #Transportation #AI Use Cases. This recognition acknowledges RTA’s efforts in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and development related to #traffic management solutions, as well as developing numerous AI-based solutions and initiatives through partnerships with the private sector and signing #MoUs with leading global companies. The key factor contributing to RTA’s winning this award is its early investment in Big Data and AI solutions. RTA has one of the largest Big Data platforms, enabling the collection and analysis of data with the required speed & quality, and the creation of dashboards that allow management to make data-driven decisions. RTA has also developed a Corporate AI Platform that allows for data processing and use in training AI algorithms, contributing to the rapid development of AI models. The platform is equipped with tools to monitor AI performance and govern the decisions made. These enablers support RTA's efforts to align with Dubai's strategy to become the smartest city in the world by employing AI to foster the well-being of residents, promote sustainability, and improve service efficiency. Represented by the Smart Services Department in the Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, RTA has collaborated with SAS in training Emiratis on AI applications and solutions, conducting brainstorming workshops and benchmarking, and monitoring the use and implementation of AI technologies across the RTA. SAS is a leader in business data analytics and one of the prominent companies in the field of business analytics software and services.

UK /16 July 2024 /Road Safety GB -- A #simulator study shows the presence of a passenger can improve drivers’ focus on the #road and help them to decide when manual control is needed in self-driving vehicles, but taking back control is still difficult. Having a front seat passenger in the vehicle was found to aid in giving directions and prevent drivers from falling asleep in the vehicles, but also created more distractions for drivers during periods of #automation. The findings come from a University of Nottingham study for the RAC Foundation into the behaviour of 17 motorists, each accompanied by a front seat passenger, who made a number of trips in a driving simulator programmed to represent a so-called Level 3 automated vehicle. In the hierarchy of vehicle automation Level 3 is known as conditional automation where, in certain circumstances, the vehicle will drive itself completely and allow the person behind the wheel to do another task, but in some scenarios it will hand back control to the driver. Fully automated driving was only available on the motorway legs of the simulated trips. Occupants spent a lot of time in conversation with each other and also on their tech – predominantly smart-phones and -watches – often showing one another the content. Some pairs watched films together and even played online chess against each other whilst the car was driving. On more than one occasion the pair was so absorbed in their activities that they missed their turn-off from the motorway. However, passengers were also observed to be good moderators, encouraging drivers to keep an eye on the road ahead even when they weren’t driving and stopping them from taking a nap. Nevertheless, when interviewed afterwards, passengers were “acutely aware of the potential distraction they posed to the driver, recognising that the driver was ultimately in control of the vehicle.” The researchers also observed that “vehicular control during the ten seconds immediately after resuming manual driving was generally poor in the case of all participants.” The drivers were seen braking and accelerating erratically, and wavering in their lanes in the immediate aftermath of taking back manual control of the vehicle, despite the support of their passenger. The study team believe that in some cases the exaggerated inputs into the pedals and steering wheel might have been the driver demonstrating to “their passenger that they were now in control.” The findings from this report can now be used to inform future studies into conditional automation and help make self-driving vehicles safer for road use. The authors also suggest that future work should uncover nuances in behaviour associated with different groups, such as young drivers, where the presence of passengers has not traditionally been found to support safer road use.

London / July 18, 2024 / Transport for London (TfL) — Transport for London (TfL) has announced the availability of up to £80 million in new #funding aimed at enhancing #road safety and improving #bus services across the capital. This investment includes £50 million over the next three years for boroughs to implement significant safety improvements and £30 million to transform bus #infrastructure and operations. “We are delighted to announce two new funding opportunities available to boroughs to continue their vital work improving road safety and investing in bus priority and infrastructure,” said Penny Rees, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment. The £50 million fund is dedicated to delivering key safety projects, such as reducing speeds, tackling dangerous roads, and enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Projects eligible for this funding can range from £0.5 million to £5 million and will target high-risk locations to reduce the risk and severity of collisions. Additionally, £30 million will be allocated through the Better Bus Partnerships program, which will grant up to £10 million each to three boroughs. This funding aims to introduce new bus priority measures, manage roadworks to minimize delays, and improve bus stops and stations to facilitate easier transfers between different transport modes. This funding complements the £80.4 million Local Implementation Plan funding already allocated to London’s boroughs for 2024/25, continuing TfL's commitment to making London's streets safer and more accessible for all residents. Image Source | (©Pexels| pixabay)

USA / July 16, 2024 / Forbes / Steve Tengler — The anticipation for self-driving cars may have waned over the past few years, with many realizing the technology may not fully arrive until 2035 or beyond. However, a promising alternative is on the horizon: Remote Driving as a Service (#RDaaS), also known as Remote Chauffeuring. RDaaS offers a semi-autonomous solution where a remote driver can handle various tasks such as #parking your car, retrieving it, driving to a #charging station, and even transporting family members, all while allowing the owner to drive whenever they wish. “Time is our most precious gift,” says Amit Rosenzweig, CEO & Founder of Ottopia, a leading RDaaS platform provider. “With RDaaS, a private driver could be operating your car from another state at a fraction of the cost of hiring a personal chauffeur.” The costs for this service are relatively modest, with hardware upgrades costing only a few hundred dollars and an annual fee of around $3,000, depending on the brand and remote driving hours selected. “The magic is that we run on mass-produced cars,” explains Rosenzweig. “It is your car, that you chose, and we’re giving you back hundreds of hours per year.” In 2024, Frost & Sullivan recognized Ottopia's technology for its leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development, highlighting its cost savings compared to fully autonomous vehicles and enhanced safety in hazardous environments. Ottopia is collaborating with several major brands to integrate this functionality, with expected launches in 2026. For those intrigued by the concept, imagine a scenario akin to Ender’s Game where a remote driver in another location parks your car. The future of semi-autonomous vehicles is closer than you think.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. /July 03, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Luminar Technologies (Nasdaq: LAZR), a leading global #automotive technology company, announced it is launching #Sentinel1, its full-stack software suite, following five years of breakthrough developments in Software and #AI systems. The Sentinel solution enables automakers to accelerate development of advanced safety and autonomous functionality on vehicles, and includes Proactive Safety, Perception, 3D #Mapping and Localization, #Simulation, and Dynamic #LiDAR features. The first shipments occurred this week, and are planned to be delivered to top automakers in the third quarter of this year. Luminar’s Sentinel suite is a solution currently in-development to enable advanced safety and autonomous functionality with automakers, leveraging Luminar’s LiDAR hardware and AI-based software technologies developed primarily in-house by its software teams in Silicon Valley and Munich, Germany, with support from 3rd party software partners including Scale AI, Applied Intuition, and Civil Maps, which Luminar acquired in 2022. Sentinel differs from full-stack autonomous software solutions from other companies that develop software for driverless robo-taxis. Luminar’s development has focused from the beginning on giving automakers the toolkit of capabilities outlined above to implement next generation safety and autonomous capabilities for consumer production vehicles. With the launch, Sentinel is targeted to be assessed by and integrated into automaker software development efforts. A recent comprehensive research report by Swiss Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, demonstrated that cars equipped with Luminar LiDAR and a development version of Sentinel software showed dramatic safety enhancements and a reduction by as much as 40% in accident severity. Details from the Swiss Re study can be found here. Luminar's foremost goal is improving safety; however, Luminar, automakers, and end consumers can capitalize on the insurance savings to be realized with the safety and damage-reduction benefits of its technology. Luminar expects to monetize some of the benefits internally by launching its own packaged insurance product to automakers and end consumers. Luminar Sentinel (Graphic: Business Wire)

Washington, D.C. / July 9, 2024 / FTA -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (#FTA) today announced approximately $1.5 billion in #funding to support 117 projects aimed at improving public #transportation across 47 states. This third round of historic funding, under President Biden’s Bipartisan #Infrastructure Law, continues the administration's efforts to modernize transit buses, reduce air pollution, and train workers on new technologies. Over the past three years, nearly $5 billion has been awarded to replace and upgrade transit buses, creating more than 4,600 American-made buses. "Today, another 117 communities across 47 states are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies replace old buses running on dirtier, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go." "Investing in low-emission and no-emission transit buses has emerged as a transformational pillar of President Biden's transportation emissions reductions strategy. This innovative and common-sense approach is already bolstering American manufacturing and creating good-paying union jobs – and it will safeguard the planet for future generations," said Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. "By modernizing transit with improved clean energy technologies, we will also boost the longevity of our mass transportation system, reduce traffic congestion, and clean up the air we breathe in the neighborhoods and communities that line our roads and highways." This funding continues the Biden-Harris Administration's historic federal investments in the nation’s bus systems and the transit workforce. About 80 percent of the buses being funded will run on zero or low emission technology, reducing air pollution and helping meet the President’s goal of zero emissions by 2050. These programs also advance President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are creating new opportunities to improve the lives of millions of Americans who rely daily on buses," said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. "These grants will help deliver cleaner and greener transportation, designed to reach everyone, and to work for everyone, particularly in places that haven’t received enough resources in the past." Federal support for bus projects over the last several years has been instrumental in improving public transit and helping communities advance their climate goals. Image Source | (©xegxef | pixabay)

Auburn Hills, Mich. / July 15, 2024 / Stellantis — To support the transition to #electrification, Stellantis has launched the #Free2move Charge website and app as it begins rolling out its first all-new, all-electric vehicles this year. "With our fully electric vehicles now arriving in the U.S. market, starting with the Fiat 500e, and the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona coming soon, our customers will quickly realize that our BEVs will carry the same brand DNA that our customers have grown to love, but with electrification and next-level technology," said Carlos Zarlenga, COO, Stellantis. "Electrification is a game changer. Yes, our customers will see efficiency gains, but they will also experience incredible performance advancements, including technology, ride and handling, giving our brands, such as Jeep, greater off-road capabilities and defending the Dodge Charger's claim as the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car." Zarlenga added, "With these advancements, our goal is to make the charging process for these vehicles as simple and easy as we can for our owners, and our Free2move Charge options will act as our customers' entry point." The Free2move Charge website and app assist consumers before, during, and after the buying process, educating and helping them understand battery-electric vehicles (#BEV) and the charging options available to them as new BEV owners. The Free2move Charge app, available in the U.S. and Canada, can be downloaded via Apple and Google app stores. “As we introduce our all-electric vehicles this year in the U.S., we want to ensure that our customers easily understand the charging options available to them before or upon purchase,” said Mathilde Lheureux, head of the energy and charge business unit. “Simply stated, included in the purchase of a Stellantis battery-electric vehicle is the ability to choose a Free2move Level 2 charging unit or charging credits with a value of $600 to use at charging stations across the country, which are easily identifiable through the app.”

DALLAS & SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Southwest Airlines and Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (#MOU) to develop operational plans for electric air taxi networks utilizing Archer’s #eVTOL aircraft at #California airports where Southwest® operates. Archer Aviation is a leading manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Southwest Airlines Co. and Archer Aviation Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop operational plans for electric air taxi networks utilizing Archer’s eVTOL aircraft at California airports where Southwest® operates. (Graphic: Business Wire) Southwest Airlines Co. and Archer Aviation Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop operational plans for electric air taxi networks utilizing Archer’s eVTOL aircraft at California airports where Southwest® operates. (Graphic: Business Wire) Southwest is the Golden State’s largest air carrier, operating at 14 airports across the state. Archer Midnight aircraft is designed to transform urban travel, replacing 60-to-90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10-to-20-minute electric air taxi flights. The goal of Archer’s aircraft is to offer a safe, low-noise, cost-competitive transportation option with no direct emissions. Southwest and Archer intend to collaborate on a concept of operations that lays the foundation for integrated electric air taxi networks that would support California airports and the surrounding communities that Southwest serves. This collaboration will include partnering with Southwest employees and respective unions, including SWAPA, to maintain and improve efficient operations. This is a key step toward potentially offering Southwest customers an airport transport service that saves time by streamlining the door-to-door passenger journey. “Southwest is eager to explore the convenience Archer’s air taxis could provide Customers flying Southwest at airports in busy urban areas,” said Paul Cullen, Vice President Real Estate at Southwest Airlines. “We’ve proudly served as California’s largest carrier for nearly 25 years, and integrating Archer’s electric aircraft into the travel journey potentially gives us an innovative opportunity to enhance the experience of flying Southwest. We look forward to collaborating with Archer as we assess future commercial activities in California and other Southwest locations.” “Archer’s collaboration with Southwest to introduce air taxis in California showcases our state’s dedication to climate innovation and advanced technology,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “This initiative is designed to help revolutionize clean transportation with zero-direct emission and affordable options, enhancing the passenger experience, and supporting California’s climate action goals.”

Vienna, July 16, 2024 /Kapsch TrafficCom – Kapsch TrafficCom AG is proud to announce that together with Austrian #roadway operator Asfinag, the first operational Green Gantry was installed in Carinthia, Austria. Unlike traditional #toll gantries made from steel or aluminum, which are associated with significant emissions due to their manufacturing and recycling processes, the Kapsch TrafficCom-designed Green Gantry is constructed from renewable timber. This #sustainable material not only supports the same functional capabilities as conventional gantries but also provides notable environmental benefits: The Green Gantry in Carinthia saves 15 tons of CO2, while comparable steel gantries cause up to 30 tons of CO2 during production. Michael Weber, Head of Sales EMENA at Kapsch TrafficCom, explains: “Our Green Gantry not only has a positive CO2 balance, it has the same load-bearing capacity and an even better environmental impact as a traditional gantry. In addition, it meets all relevant European norms and standards for gantries, so it is equally safe to deploy and to maintain, and after its lifetime of at least 20 years, it can be dismantled and re-used without causing additional pollution.” “For us, sustainable construction is not just an empty slogan; we want to set new standards in this area,” say ASFINAG board members Hartwig Hufnagl and Herbert Kasser. “Innovations are the driving force behind this. Wood as a building material can also play an important role on the motorway in the future.” The load-bearing core and therefore the majority of the new gantry is made of glued and laminated spruce timber. Weather-resistant larch wood was used for the outer layer, which can be easily repaired in case of damage. The highly prefabricated wood construction was completed and delivered to the building site by the HASSLACHER group. The installation of the gantry on the highway was managed by Asfinag together with traffic technology specialist Forster and, due to it’s high degree of prefabrication, took only about one day. The electricity for operating the gantry equipment comes from its own photovoltaic system. In order to ensure system functionality in bad weather and at night, a battery storage system was also installed. Credit: Kapsch TrafficCom

17 July 2024 /EU -- The European Commission has selected 134 #transport projects to receive over €7 billion in EU grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (#CEF), the EU's instrument for strategic investment in #infrastructure. This represents the largest call under the current CEF Transport programme. Around 83% of the #funding will support projects that deliver on the EU’s climate objectives, improving and modernising the EU network of railways, inland waterways and maritime routes along the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network. Rail projects will receive 80% of the €7 billion. Furthermore, the revised TEN-T Regulation will take effect starting tomorrow, July 18. Funding will go to major projects to improve cross-border rail connections along the TEN-T core network – in the Baltic Member States (Rail Baltica), between France and Italy (Lyon-Turin), and between Denmark and Germany (Fehmarnbelt tunnel). Around 20 maritimeports in Ireland, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Lithuania, Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, and Poland will receive support for infrastructure upgrades, some of which will enable them to supply shore-side electricity to ships, or transport renewable energy. Work on inland waterway infrastructure will improve cross-border connections between France and Belgium in the Seine-Scheldt basin, and between Romania and Bulgaria on the Danube. Inland ports in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands will also receive funding, so that they may continue to promote Europe’s network of rivers and canals for sustainable transport. For road transport, launching cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) and creating new, safe and secure parking areas will increase safety for individuals and professionals alike. Air traffic management projects will continue to develop a Single European Sky so that air transport becomes more efficient, safer and more sustainable. Finally, several projects will enable greater capacity along the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, set up to facilitate imports and exports between Ukraine and the EU. These projects cover: improvements to road transport infrastructure at border crossing points between Ukraine, Moldova and Romania; work to increase capacity on the Hungary-Ukraine rail border crossing; a new section of road in Poland extending it to the border with Ukraine; as well as studies and works to integrate the Ukrainian railway system into the EU. Image Source | (©Schwoaze | pixabay)