Autonomous vehicles

More than 745,000 autonomous vehicles on the road by 2023: Gartner
By 2023, there will be more than 745,000 autonomous vehicles on the road according to a new report by Gartner. This growth will predominately come from North America, Greater China and Western Europe as these regions become the first to introduce regulations around autonomous driving technology. The study, Forecast Analysis:

Fortescue Metals Group set to open autonomous vehicle research centre
Mining company Fortescue Metals Group is exploring how it could apply autonomous mobility technology in an urban environment, announcing it plans to establish a new research and development centre in Karratha, Western Australia. The Fortescue Future of Mobility Centre will leverage the company’s success in using autonomous technology across its

Introduction of 5G to accelerate hyper connected world: Cisco exec
The pace of the hyper connected world is set to exponentially accelerate with the introduction of pervasive 5G networks and Wi-Fi six enabling unprecedented bandwidth possibilities as connectivity and digital transformation moves beyond humans and devices to the realm of machine-to-machine. Addressing the audience at Cisco Live in Melbourne, Irving

Adelaide introduces autonomous bus and smart transit hubs
The South Australian government has today launched a six month trial of a self-driving electric bus, dubbed Olli, which will travel between two new transit hubs in Adelaide’s beachside suburb Glenelg. Olli was built by Local Motors, which has also created the first 3D printed car and has partnered with

Auto industry’s tech talent shortage set to worsen: BCG
As the auto industry embraces electric and self-driving vehicles the war for talent is set to intensify, with manufacturers searching for candidates with deep expertise in AI, robotics and a passion for cars. Over the coming decade the US mobility industry will create 30,000 jobs for engineers with degrees

Holden begins recruitment drive to find 150 engineers to develop autonomous vehicles
Holden is recruiting 150 Australian engineers to expand General Motors’ research and development operations in Australia. The Melbourne-based team will be embedded in GMs’ global Advanced Vehicle Development division, which is building the company’s electric and autonomous cars of the future. The new recruits, made up of graduates and experienced

Emergency Braking Disabled in Fatal Uber Crash: NTSB Report
Uber’s self-driving vehicle which struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona earlier this year had detected the woman prior to the crash, but the car’s emergency braking system had been disabled. In March, the modified 2017 Volvo XC90, which was operating in autonomous mode with a driver behind the wheel,

Legal lessons for Australia from Uber’s self-driving car fatality
Consider this thought experiment: a woman pushes a bicycle across a busy road at 10 pm. She is struck by a car and dies. Would this event usually generate headlines or cause all driving to be halted? No, because there were more than 5,984 pedestrians killed by cars in 2017

Rio Tinto’s Autonomous Haul Trucks Have moved 1 billion tonnes and recorded zero injuries
Rio Tinto’s fleet of autonomous haul trucks achieved a significant milestone in January by moving their one-billionth tonne of material. Since commencing trial operations in 2008, haul trucks fitted with Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) technology have now moved more than one billion tonnes of both ore and waste material across

Disruption Cover Story: Vale Petrol Stations. How shops, homes and office blocks will replace fuel retailers
Navman probably never thought it would see its value destroyed by a search company. The taxi industry likely never expected to be upended by a phone app. Real disruption is generally a blindsiding event, not an incremental improvement by a traditional irritant. Retailers are facing huge changes to the way