Location Based Systems

Vector and BaselabS have formed a partnership aimed at jointly creating products and services for the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving. Vector will focus on special software tools for the development of ADAS and automated vehicles, while Baselabs will concentrates on software for data fusion in multiple-sensor scenarios, including the necessary algorithms. Baselabs will also provide application support in the development of ADAS and automated vehicles. Th

Volvo Trucks has developed new technology specifically to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The technology, developed in a research project called Non-Hit Car and Truck in cooperation with Volvo Cars. Volvo Trucks’ research shows that limited visibility is one of the main causes of heavy truck accidents with vulnerable road users in Europe. It claims its new technology enables a vehicle to do a 360 degree scan of everything that happens around it, receiving information via sensors, radars and cameras

According to a new research report from analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in North America was four million in Q4-2013. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3 per cent, this number is expected to reach 8.1 million by 2018. In Latin America, the number of active fleet management systems is expected to increase from 1.9 million in Q4-2013, growing at a CAGR of 16.1 per cent to reach 3.9 million in 2018. The top t

TomTom and Volkswagen Group Research have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join forces for the development of highly automated driving (HAD) systems. Their aim is to jointly develop the digital map that is essential for automated driving by combining TomTom’s expertise in map content and map making with Volkswagen’s know-how of the car and automated driving. The map that is used today for navigation, including geometry, street names, and addressing, is not sufficient for the future needs of a

Mercedes-Benz is to begin testing its autonomous cars on a unique site in California, at the Contra Costa Transportation Authority Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS), the largest test bed site in the US. Since mid-September the company has also held an official licence, issued by California, to test self-driving vehicles on public roads. The additional testing opportunities provided by the CNWS site will enable the company to significantly expand the scope of its research activities. With a test ar

TomTom is to partner with Bosch to integrate its navigation technology and maps into Bosch’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), enabling Bosch to develop more advanced applications including intelligent cruise control, upcoming curve alerts, and jam tail warnings. Up-to-date map and navigation data is an essential component of ADAS, providing drivers with a more detailed view of the road ahead. TomTom’s smart map making technology enables Bosch to create more accurate advanced driving application

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has plans for multiple pilot deployments of connected vehicle technology in real-world settings throughout the country, bringing the promise of connected vehicles to some US roads even sooner. The pilots will serve as initial implementations of connected vehicle technology with the aim of delivering near-term safety, mobility, and environmental benefits. In early 2015, the USDOT will seek proposals from a wide variety of communities interested in being part of

The all-new Ford Mondeo will be equipped with a raft of safety features, including technology that is able to detect people in the road ahead and – if the driver does not respond to warning sounds and displays – automatically applies the brakes. Pedestrian Detection is among a raft of new features and improvements detailed by Ford which enhance the Mondeo. The system is part of the Pre-Collision Assist package that also introduces Active Braking, which can autonomously apply braking to help mitigate rear

Drive C2X has shown that advanced warning of poor road conditions could cut fatalities, as David Crawford explains. Connected vehicle (CV)-based warning technologies could mean 6% fewer deaths and 5% fewer injuries in road traffic accidents in Europe, according to the final results of the European Commission (EC) co-funded DRIVE C2X project. According to the European Centre for Information and Communication Technologies (EICT) which provided management support, these “prove that CV systems work and can hav