In autonomous and self-driving vehicle news are Nissan, Renault, WeRide, Guident and Zoox.
Nissan Demos Autonomous Driving LEAF
Nissan has commenced demonstrations of a prototype vehicle equipped with its in-house-developed, autonomous drive technologies – showcasing progress in its goal towards rolling out autonomous mobility services within fiscal year 2027.
The Nissan LEAF prototype vehicle incorporates 14 cameras, 10 radars and 6 LIDAR sensors. It demonstrates Nissan’s progress in the field of autonomous driving, particularly within complex urban environments. Compared to earlier prototypes the company has demonstrated, the latest test vehicle features an array of roof-mounted sensors, significantly expanding the detection area and enabling more accurate detection of its surroundings.
As a result, recognition performance, behavioral prediction, and judgment functions, as well as control functions have been enhanced, delivering smooth operation in a variety of complex scenarios. Around the busy streets of Yokohama, close to Nissan’s global headquarters in Japan, the LEAF prototype is able to smoothly demonstrate its ability to predict the behavior of pedestrians, conduct lane changes when merging, and judge when to safely enter intersections.
Nissan has been studying business models for future mobility services since fiscal year 2017. While the current demonstration is being conducted at SAE Level 2 equivalent with a safety driver present, the company aims to continue to expand functionality and to begin offering autonomous-drive mobility services within Japan, starting in fiscal year 2027*, working with third parties such as local authorities and transport operators.
In the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, Nissan aims to begin trials in the Minato Mirai area, and plans to progress to service demonstration tests within fiscal year 2025. During the trials, the level of autonomous driving functionality will be gradually increased while assessing customer acceptance, with the aim to provide driverless services.
This initiative is being conducted in close cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; and other central ministries. The ministries will also promote initiatives to realize new autonomous mobility services at the Level 4 Mobility Acceleration Committee that they organize.
Nissan’s long-term vision is to empower mobility by solving transportation service issues faced by local communities. Local communities, particularly within Japan have been facing several mobility challenges, such as driver shortages, which are a result of an ageing population. Supporting a resolution to this
Renault FTT & WeRide L4 Shuttles for Gran Slam
Renault, premium partner of Roland-Garros, and French Tennis Federation (FTT), together with WeRide, a globally leading autonomous driving technology company, provide a L4 driverless minibus shuttle service for this Grand Slam tennis tournament held on the red clay.
This milestone highlights WeRide’s global leadership in autonomous driving with its strong technological foundation, and extensive operational experience, further gaining trust and recognition in the international market.
3rd Autonomous Vehicle Day Conference Success in FL
The third annual Autonomous Vehicle Day Conference, held in Florida at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority Armsdale Test and Learn Facility, was a resounding success. This year’s theme, “Innovating Mobility,” brought together global industry leaders.
Co-sponsored by Guident, the event provided a valuable platform for attendees to exchange ideas and insights with pioneers in the autonomous mobility industry. This inspiring gathering sparked new projects, partnerships, and collaborations, driving the industry forward and solidifying the conference’s reputation as a cornerstone event in the autonomous vehicle industry.
“The AV Day 2024 Conference crystallized the path forward for the autonomous vehicle industry: drive driverless somewhere before everywhere, and do it in collaboration with your co-founders, users, builders, and stakeholders in your ecosystem. This event made it abundantly clear that this is the way to succeed, and it showcased Florida’s outsized role in Oxa’s journey and its partnerships,” stated this year’s Keynote Speaker at the conference, Prof. Paul Newman, Founder and CTO of Oxa.
Attendees enjoyed a series of thought-provoking sessions, engaging panel discussions, and networking opportunities that fostered a spirit of innovation and cooperation. A diverse range of topics were covered from cutting-edge technological advancements to regulatory updates and market trends.
Harald Braun, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Guident stated, “This year’s AV Day 2024 Conference showcased the power of global collaboration in the autonomous vehicle industry. The presence of international leaders, speakers, and demonstrators underscored the fact that borders do not confine the future of mobility; rather, it is a shared vision that transcends them.”
This event served as a catalyst, igniting passion and spurring innovation, reminding us that our collective enthusiasm and contributions are the driving force behind the continued growth and success of this transformative industry.
Looking ahead to next year’s conference, Guident is excited to harness the momentum generated by AV Day 2024. By uniting industry efforts and continuing to foster collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing, this conference will help pave the way for a future where autonomous transportation services revolutionize how we live and move. The AV Day Conference remains committed to being a driving force in shaping this transformative journey.
About Guident
Guident commercializes new technology to enable safer autonomous vehicles and devices by providing industry-leading AV remote monitor, control, assistance, and passenger support services. To learn more, please visit https://guident.com.
About The Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency serving Jacksonville, Florida and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA provides varied mass public transit services, and is a builder of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to enhance mobility in Jacksonville. Public transportation services include BRT and regular bus service, paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. To learn more, visit www.jtafla.com.