Autonomous Vehicle News & Analysis

Autonomous

  • MEGURI2040: The Fully Autonomous Ship Program

    FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
    Akihiro Komuro
    Akihiro Komuro

    The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group company Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. have successfully completed a demonstration test of the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushuu City, in January.

    This demonstration was part of MEGURI2040, a fully autonomous ship navigation project launched by The Nippon Foundation in February 2020.

    Japan’s declining birthrate, aging population, and shrinking population have resulted in labor shortages in many fields. Seafarers in coastal shipping, which requires hard work on board, are no exception. More than half of the seafarers in coastal shipping are over 50 years old, which poses a major challenge.

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  • Sony Unveils EV SUV, Announces Collaboration With Honda

    FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
    Akihiro Komuro
    Akihiro Komuro

    On March 5, the Sony Group unveiled its prototype EV “VISION-S” SUV to the public for the first time in Japan. The vehicle brings together Sony’s strengths in sensor, audio, and video technologies. On March 4, Sony announced a partnership with Honda, and the two companies will jointly develop EVs through a new company in which both companies will invest, with the aim of launching the EVs in 2025.

    Following a sedan-type prototype announced in 2020, Sony unveiled an SUV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a digital technology trade show held in the U.S. in January 2022.

    The side mirrors will have no mirrored surfaces and will use images and data collected from nearly 40 sensors, including those in the front and rear of the vehicle, to enhance safety. The dashboard has three displays that can show movies and other content in addition to driving information. Inside the car, Sony’s audio technology is used to provide a realistic music experience.

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  • Penetration Rate of Intelligent EVs in China in 2030 May Exceed 90%

    CHINA REPORT
    Jack Hao
    Jack Hao

    “China has the largest automobile production in the world, the most complete industrial foundation, supply chain foundation, talent foundation and market foundation,” said Li Bin, chairman of Weilai automobile.

    These factors provide China with a significant advantage in developing intelligent EVs, he said “In fact, if we can have the advantages of these four aspects at the same time, China is the only one in the world,” he added.

    The penetration rate of new energy has exceeded 10%…

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  • Medium and Heavy EV Market In Early Testing

    Autonomous Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles

    Chris Fisher
    Chris Fisher

    We have been hearing a lot of talk and getting questions on the current status and the future of autonomous vehicles within the medium and heavy segment.

    Early adopters of autonomous technology will likely be in the class 8 long haul segment followed by the bus and medium duty truck segment.  Currently, the high cost of the technology can be better absorbed in class 8 long-haul truck applications.

    The transition from level 0 to level 1 and 2 is happening relatively quickly due in part to the availability of the technology.  Level 3 adoption is still a few years away and it is currently not legal to use on the highway.  It will likely be 2027 or 2028 before we see small levels of level 3 commercial vehicles on the road.

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