During the week-long pilot, the public will be invited to take free test rides of the driverless vehicle, which carries up to a dozen passengers and was designed for use by state and local governments and transit agencies and operators as an efficient, clean-energy alternative to the fossil-fuel powered vehicles of today

Read the full article at: telematicswire.net

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas – baby!

In the ARM world, Renesas recently released several third-generation R-Car starter kits that are optimized for both AGL and the rival GENIVI Alliance spec, which similarly focuses on open source Linux IVI development. The kits, one of which includes a newly announced R-Car H3 SoC, are designed for ADAS, infotainment, reconfigurable digital clusters, and integrated digital cockpits.

Read the full article at: hackerboards.com

The new R-Car starter kit is on every developer’s desk or wish list since it is supported by every popular automotive OS project.

The propinquity  to major universities and other automotive companies might have led the company to choose Wixom

Read the full article at: telematicswire.net

Wow, Wixom? I guess there is life after the Ford Wixom plant where 100s of thousands of Lincolns were build by the UAW.

“We are pleased to have the University of Waterloo as a contributing partner to our new autonomous vehicle,” said Amrit Vivekanand, vice president, Automotive Business Unit, Renesas Electronics America. “With Waterloo, we have established a deep working relationship, engaging with them beyond traditional academic levels of collaboration.”

Read the full article at: telematicswire.net

Universities are on the cutting edge of autonomous research, it makes sense to collaborate and build a community response to help automakers design these cars to be safe and buildable.

The company has used computer with less computational power which relys on less sensory data and  hence built a cheaper car  when compared to its competitors.

Read the full article at: telematicswire.net

Autonomous will only catch on if the costs are low, and expensive, large computer chips will never make the mainstream and deliver the volume safety benefits.

Plans are to design it to operate without a steering wheel, gas or brake pedal, for use in commercial mobility services such as ride sharing and ride hailing within geo-fenced areas. It is expected to be available in high volumes

Read the full article at: community.michelinchallengebibendum.com

Geo-fenced areas are spaces where normal cars do not operate, perhaps a converted HOV lane that is otherwise unused since most cars have only one occupant. Ford is not making any claims they will SELL these in volume, only that they will be available, sort of like EVs.

NIS 7100-equipped semis will be available for purchase for the European, Russian, Asian, Latin American and Oceanian markets

Read the full article at: telematicswire.net

Trucks have special safety and security requirements and could really use secure driver recognition to avoid their large trailers in acts of terror. Using an open platform such as Linux or Android could help make this happen.

CAV technologies could lead to a 60 percent cost reduction – based on a full automation, multiple-occupant scenario

Read the full article at: community.michelinchallengebibendum.com

Notice these savings COULD come if even multiple passengers used today’s cars too. The study also shows fuel use could increase if we make car TOO convenient.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey wrote on Twitter, “California may not want you; but AZ does!”

Read the full article at: www.bloomberg.com

Arizona seems to be the resting place for all things exiting California – including the great weather 9 months of the year.

Low-Cost Open-Source R-Car M3 Development Platform
Enables R-Car-Based Software Ecosystem Creation with the Latest Technology

Read the full article at: renesasces.com

Be sure to visit the THIRD site where you can see Renesas leadership in Open Source Automotive as highlighted by the new R-Car M3 Starter Kit for Developers. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/genivi-ces2017-networking-reception-bellagio-hotel-registration-27680954480 or watch is live at: https://livestream.com/accounts/22858806/events/6819692/player?width=640&height=360&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=&autoPlay=true&mute=false on Jan 5th.