Uber Acquired Otto 90+ team of Self driving Truck Company

 

Uber Acquired Otto

Uber Acquired Otto

Uber Acquired Otto

I’m excited to announce that Uber has acquired Otto, a 90-plus person technology startup whose mission is to rethink transportation, starting with self-driving trucks. Anthony Levandowski, Otto’s co-founder, will now lead our combined self-driving efforts reporting directly to me—across personal transportation, delivery and trucking—in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Pittsburgh.

If that sounds like a big deal—well, it is. More and more the world of atoms is interacting with bits. In order to provide digital services in the physical world, we must build sophisticated logistics, artificial intelligence and robotics systems that serve and elevate humanity.

Screen Shot 2016-08-18 at 10.39.10 AM

When it comes to this advanced technology stack, Otto plus Uber is a dream team. Anthony is one of the world’s leading autonomous engineers: his first invention, a self-driving motorcycle called Ghostrider, is now in the Smithsonian. Just as important, Anthony is a prolific entrepreneur with a real sense of urgency.

Together, we now have one of the strongest autonomous engineering groups in the world; self-driving trucks and cars that are already on the road thanks to Otto and Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh; the practical experience that comes from running ridesharing and delivery services in hundreds of cities; with the data and intelligence that comes from doing 1.2 billion miles on the road every month.

In the last six years we’ve seen the profound impact that smartphone technology has had on transportation, as well as the delivery business. When people can push a button and reliably get an affordable ride across town, things change for the better—and quickly. Ridesharing helps cut drunk driving. It complements public transit, getting people to places that other means of transportation don’t reach, replacing the need to own a car over time. Most important of all, the smartphone has made mass carpooling a reality. By getting more people into fewer cars, we can reduce congestion and pollution in our cities.

Otto truck Driverless

Otto Truck Driver less

Of course, this is just the start, especially when it comes to safety. Over one million people die on the world’s roads every year and 90 percent of these accidents are due to human error. In the US, traffic accidents are a leading cause of death for people under 25. This is a tragedy that self-driving technology can help solve. That’s why our partnership with Swedish car maker Volvo, which we’re also announcing today, is so important. Volvo has consistently been a leader when it comes to safety. And partnership is crucial to our self-driving strategy because Uber has no experience making cars. To do it well is incredibly hard, as I realized on my first visit to a car manufacturing plant several years ago. By combining Uber’s self-driving technology with Volvo’s state-of-the art vehicles and safety technology, we’ll get to the future faster than going it alone.

Here’s to a great partnership with Volvo. And to Anthony, Lior and the Otto team—welcome to Uber. We’re pumped to have you on board. It’s time to move.

–Travis Kalanick, CEO and Co-Founder, Uber

www.uber.com

Uber’s First Self-Driving Fleet Arrives in Pittsburgh, PA

Uber’s First Self-Driving Fleet Arrives in Pittsburgh This Month

The autonomous cars, launching this summer, are custom Volvo XC90s, supervised by humans in the driver’s seat.

 

Uber-first-Self-Driving-Car-pittsburg-pa

Uber-first-Self-Driving-Car-pittsburg-pa

Starting later this month, Uber will allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon self-driving cars from their phones, crossing an important milestone that no automotive or technology company has yet achieved. Google, widely regarded as the leader in the field, has been testing its fleet for several years, and Tesla Motors offers Autopilot, essentially a souped-up cruise control that drives the car on the highway. Earlier this week, Ford announced plans for an autonomous ride-sharing service. But none of these companies has yet brought a self-driving car-sharing service to market.

Uber’s Pittsburgh fleet, which will be supervised by humans in the driver’s seat for the time being, consists of specially modified Volvo XC90 sport-utility vehicles outfitted with dozens of sensors that use cameras, lasers, radar, and GPS receivers. Volvo Cars has so far delivered a handful of vehicles out of a total of 100 due by the end of the year. The two companies signed a pact earlier this year to spend $300 million to develop a fully autonomous car that will be ready for the road by 2021.

 

Ford Full Autonomous/Driverless car in 2021

ford-driverless-car-2021

ford-driverless-car-2021

FORD TARGETS FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FOR RIDE SHARING IN 2021; INVESTS IN NEW TECH COMPANIES, DOUBLES SILICON VALLEY TEAM

 

 

  • Ford announces intention to deliver high-volume, fully autonomous vehicle for ride sharing in 2021
  • Ford investing in or collaborating with four startups on autonomous vehicle development
  • Company also doubling Silicon Valley team and more than doubling Palo Alto campus

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 16, 2016 – Ford today announces its intent to have a high-volume, fully autonomous SAE level 4-capable vehicle in commercial operation in 2021 in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service.

To get there, the company is investing in or collaborating with four startups to enhance its autonomous vehicle development, doubling its Silicon Valley team and more than doubling its Palo Alto campus.

“The next decade will be defined by automation of the automobile, and we see autonomous vehicles as having as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “We’re dedicated to putting on the road an autonomous vehicle that can improve safety and solve social and environmental challenges for millions of people – not just those who can afford luxury vehicles.”

Fields says he’s not closing the door on potential partnerships. Ford and Baidu Inc., the Chinese Internet behemoth, announced that both companies jointly invested $150 million in Velodyne, a Silicon Valley company that specializes in sensors. Already Silicon Valley and the auto industry have been in a dating frenzy looking for long-term partners to help develop the technology behind a self-driving car. Volkswagen spent $300 million to get a piece of ride-hailing company Uber’s European rival Gett. General Motors spent $1 billion to purchase Cruise Automation, as well as investing in ride-hire service Lyft. Meanwhile, Toyota invested in Uber.

Ford’s engineers may be confident, but are riders? The announced plan would have cars without not only drivers but obvious vehicle controls. Visintainer says he understands the public’s uneasiness about autonomy. He says the company is looking for ways to convince the public that self-driving cars can be safe. “It’s going to be an education and a journey, being transparent and open about the progress we’re making, and how we’re doing is a key part of that.”

Analysts say discussing the technology is a move to placate the concerns of Wall Street. General Motors, Google and some of Ford’s other competitors have spent the year making announcements and investments in advanced technology. Michelle Krebs with autotrader.com says GM has been grabbing all the headlines recently “and Ford can’t be happy about that, especially as some Wall Street analysts have wondered if Ford is falling behind in future mobility.” Ford’s Mark Fields has said Ford has been setting the pace.

 

Read More

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/17/490406911/ford-looks-to-a-fleet-of-driverless-cars

DOT Brake Safety Week Coming in September

Truck Brake Inspection week sept 11 - 17 2016

Truck Brake Inspection week sept 11 – 17 2016

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Association will be holding its annual brake safety inspection campaign the week of Sept. 11-17, 2016. The event is designed to promote brake safety in commercial vehicles and will focus on brake system compliance.

Commercial vehicle operators should be prepared for inspections by law enforcement officials to include checks for loose or missing parts; air or hydraulic fluid leaks; worn linings, pads, drums or rotors; and other faulty brake-system components.

If inspectors find defective or out-of-service brakes, those vehicles will be placed out of service.

During the week of Sept. 11-17, 2016, law enforcement agencies across North America will conduct inspections on large trucks and buses to identify out-of-adjustment brakes, and brake-system and anti-lock braking system (ABS) violations as part of CVSA’s Brake Safety Week, an annual outreach and enforcement campaign designed to improve commercial motor vehicle (CMV) brake safety throughout North America.

Properly functioning brake systems are crucial to safe CMV operation. CMV brakes are designed to hold up under tough conditions, but they must be routinely inspected and maintained carefully and consistently so they operate and perform properly throughout the vehicle’s life. Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce braking efficiency and increase the stopping distance of trucks and buses, posing serious risks to driver and public safety. ABS systems help the vehicle, and thus the driver, maintain control in certain situations, which reduces the risk of some types of crashes.

Brake-related violations comprised the largest percentage (representing 43 percent) of all out-of-service violations cited during Operation Airbrake’s companion International Roadcheck campaign in 2015, which focused on inspections of both vehicles and drivers.

Inspections conducted during Brake Safety Week include inspection of brake-system components to identify loose or missing parts, air or hydraulic fluid leaks, worn linings, pads, drums or rotors, and other faulty brake-system components. ABS malfunction indicator lamps are also checked. Inspectors will inspect brake components and measure pushrod stroke where applicable. Defective or out-of-adjustment brakes will result in the vehicle being placed out of service.

Many inspectors will be conducting Level I Inspections, and in the 10 jurisdictions currently using performance-based brake testing (PBBT) equipment, vehicle braking efficiency will be measured. These systems include a slow speed roller dynamometer that measures total vehicle weight and total brake force from which braking efficiency is determined. The minimum braking efficiency for trucks is 43.5 percent, required by U.S. federal regulation and the CVSA out-of-service criteria.

Outreach and educational efforts by CMV inspectors, participating motor carriers and others in the industry will also take place during Brake Safety Week and are integral to the success of the campaign.

More than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected since the program’s inception in 1998.

Brake Safety Week is part of the Operation Airbrake program sponsored by CVSA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

 

Great American Truck Show 2016 Coming, Dallas, TX

August 27-29, The Great American Trucking Show (GATS), one of the nation’s largest trucking trade shows, will be at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Find a job, attend free educational seminars, get the latest information from top industry leaders or see the amazing works of art at Overdrive Magazine’s Pride & Polish Truck Beauty Contest. GATS is the culmination of Overdrive’s Pride & Polish National Championship Series. Best of show winners from the 2014-2015 shows will gather to find out who is the best of the best. Pre-register for FREE before August 27. Visit truckshow.com/register and join the fun!

 

Tuesday, August 23, 2016
12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Check-In
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Parking and Check-in
6 p.m. Drivers Meeting
Pizza dinner provided by Randall-Reilly
Thursday, August 25, 2016
8:30 a.m. Rags Down!
9 a.m. Judging Begins
Friday, August 26, 2016
Enjoy GATS
Saturday, August 27, 2016
10:30 a.m. Award Ceremony

How to behave when experience road rage?

Road Range Safety

Woman showing bad gesture

Nearly 80% of Drivers Experience Road Rage

A study released by the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 78 percent of drivers experienced significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year. The study – based on a survey of 2,705 licensed drivers – estimated that a large portion of motorists engaged in a variety of angry and aggressive behavior:

• Purposefully tailgating: 51% (104 million drivers)
• Yelling at another driver: 47% (95 million drivers)
• Honking to show annoyance or anger- 45% (91 million drivers)
• Making angry gestures: 33% (67 million drivers)
• Trying to block another vehicle from changing lanes: 24% (49 million drivers)
• Cutting off another vehicle on purpose: 12% (24 million drivers)
• Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver: 4% (7.6 million drivers)
• Bumping or ramming another vehicle on purpose: 3% (5.7 million drivers)

Additionally, the study notes some significant demographic differences, finding that younger male drivers were much more likely to have engaged in angry or aggressive driving behaviors.
To combat road rage, AAA offers the following tips:
• Don’t offend. Make sure your driving doesn’t cause others to brake, swerve or change lanes unnecessarily.
• Be tolerant and forgiving. Assume the best in other drivers and don’t take their behavior personally.
• Do not respond. Refrain from making gestures, making eye contact or doing anything to escalate the situation. Call 911 if needed.
Read about the Study HERE

Women Transportation/Trucking Initiative(WITI) by DOT

 

Goals of the Program

The goals of the program are to increase the participation of women in the transportation industry and prepare young women to become our nation’s future leaders. To accomplish these goals, the program will:

  1. Creates Ladders of Opportunity to careers and internships in the transportation industry.
  2. Educates WITI participants on the exciting opportunities available in the transportation industry and inspire them to enter the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
  3. Establishes strategic partnerships through the creation of the Women in Transportation Advisory Committees in each region.
  4. Attracts and Retains female WITI participants in transportation fields through Ladders of Opportunity.
  5. Identifies barriers to economic competitiveness for women particpating in the transportation industry and provide sustainability tools.

Women trucking