Category Archives: safety

BMW Group, Mobileye to Crowd Source Digital Maps for Autonomous Vehicles

An emerging, show-stopping problem with autonomous vehicles comes from the state of the roads and existing GPS maps. Roads are inconsistently marked, in various states of disrepair and subject to camera and sensor fouling weather conditions. GPS maps aren’t accurate enough. Autonomous vehicles will require HD maps that can identify and update changes in the environment with near real-time speed, enabling very short “time to reflect reality.” Continue reading

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Drones – FAA UAS Symposium Registration Opens

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) announced today that registration is underway for the 2017 UAS Symposium (drones) scheduled to take place at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, VA, from March 27 to 29. Continue reading

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NASCAR Expands Concussion Protocol to SCAT3

The move comes at a time when the Wall Street Journal is questioning the very survival of the National Football over its massive and ongoing concussion problem and scandal. Continue reading

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Robert Bosch Invests in TetraVue for Lidar Skills

In theory, TetraVue’s expertise helps to address challenges with automated vehicles encountering unexpected and dangerous obstacles during operation. TetraVue’s core technology differentiation is claimed to be their patented “light slicer” technology, which uses time and distance measurements to find optical intensities using standard CMOS sensors. Continue reading

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Ford Places $1B Bet in Argo AI on Autonomous Vehicles

The very small Argo AI team of specialists in robotics and artificial intelligence is led by founders Bryan Salesky, CEO, and Peter Rander, COO. Both are alumni of Carnegie Mellon National Robotics Engineering Center and former heads of the self-driving car teams of Google and Uber, respectively. Continue reading

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U.S. Helicopter Accidents Decrease

The overall accident rate at 3.19 accidents per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 compares with 3.67 accidents in 2015. The fatal accident rate declined slightly at 0.51 accidents per 100,000 flight hours in 2016 compared with a 0.52 in 2015.
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Ford Settles Navistar Diesel Class Action in Canada

During the warranty period (60,000 kilometers or 3 years and 100,000 kilometers or 5 years), the plaintiffs say Ford would refuse to authorize necessary major engine repairs or engine replacements, instead only offering cheaper services, such as injector replacements) knowing that they would merely serve as a temporary measure until the warranty expired. Continue reading

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Top Ten Future Collectible Cars in 2017 Production

Ten vehicles in production by automakers stand out as the likeliest to grow in value and appeal as collectible cars to enthusiasts, claims Haggerty. Continue reading

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Nissan to Start Autonomous Vehicle Tests in London

One in three cars built in the UK is a Nissan, but following the Brexit dustup (Brexit Automaker Winners, Losers – Predictable and Surprising, ‘Bloody Hell,’ What Does Brexit do to Automakers?), it’s not clear Nissan will stay in the UK. Continue reading

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Dieselgate: Volkswagen Cuts Deal with FTC and Plaintiffs

Volkswagen has agreed to pay up to approximately $1.2 billion in benefits for the 3-liter plea bargain, assuming 100% participation in the program, a 100% buyback of all eligible so-called Generation 1 vehicles and availability of an Emissions Compliant Repair for Generation 2 vehicles. Continue reading

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Dieselgate: Bosch Plea-Bargain for Dirty Engines

The dieselgate plea bargain – and it looks like a real bargain – requires the approval by Judge Charles R. Breyer, who conducts the nationwide multi-district proceedings in which numerous civil law actions have been combined. Continue reading

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Distracted Driving: Class Action Suit Over Apple iPhones

MLG Automotive Law filed a class action lawsuit against Apple to enjoin the company from selling iPhones until it installs texting and driving safeguards. Continue reading

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Penske Truck Rental now Providing Collision Avoidance

It’s the latest step in the ongoing, rapidly expanding driver assist safety system deployment that is the run up to autonomous vehicles. Continue reading

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SEC Charges GM with GAAP Violations on Ignition Switches

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged General buy celecoxib 200 mg Motors (NYSE: GM) with GAAP  violations and GM  has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty over deadly ignition swiches. This deal settles charges that deficient internal accounting … Continue reading

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Takata Pleads Guilty of Falsifying Data on Airbag Shrapnel

Takata has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice – DOJ – whereby it will plead guilty for falsifying airbag testing data and reports that were provided to automakers. Continue reading

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