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SEARCHThe SAE-rated level 4-capable vehicle will not have a steering wheel or gas and brake pedals. It is being specifically designed for commercial mobility services, such as ride sharing and ride hailing, and will be available in high volumes.
Image via Ford
Ford announced plans to have fully autonomous, driverless ride-sharing vehicles in commercial operation by 2021.
The vehicle will be a Society of Automotive Engineers-rated level 4-capable vehicle without a steering wheel or gas and brake pedals. It is being specifically designed for commercial mobility services, such as ride sharing and ride hailing, and will be available in high volumes.
To get there, the company is investing in or collaborating with four startups (see below) to enhance its autonomous vehicle development in the areas of advanced algorithms, 3D mapping, LiDAR, and radar and camera sensors.
Velodyne is the Silicon Valley-based developer of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors, which are used for high-resolution mapping — key for autonomous vehicle technology.
SAIPS: The Israel-based computer vision and machine learning company's expertise will help Ford autonomous vehicles learn and adapt to the surroundings of their environment.
Nirenberg Neuroscience LLC: Ford’s partnership with Nirenberg Neuroscience, a machine vision company, will help bring humanlike intelligence to the machine learning modules of its autonomous vehicle virtual driver system
Civil Maps: Ford has invested in Berkeley, California-based Civil Maps to further develop high-resolution 3D-mapping capabilities.
This year, Ford will triple its autonomous vehicle test fleet to be the largest test fleet of any automaker — bringing the number to about 30 self-driving Fusion Hybrid sedans on the roads in California, Arizona and Michigan, with plans to triple it again next year. The automaker is also is expanding its Silicon Valley operations, creating a dedicated campus in Palo Alto by the end of 2017.
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Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
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Through the strategic partnership, MOIA America will provide MOIA’s turnkey autonomous mobility solution. This includes purpose-built, autonomous-ready ID. Buzz vehicles equipped with the self-driving system developed by Mobileye, as well as operator training and enablement.
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An important part of the authority’s NextGen Bus Network, MARTA Reach will bring transit service directly to the rider’s location and offer a seamless link to the broader rail and bus system.
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The partnership aims to accelerate the rollout of electric, high-capacity autonomous shuttles for campuses, airports, transit systems, and more.
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Veteran transportation innovator to lead coalition as it pushes nationwide expansion of shared autonomous mobility.
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