IoT Today: Chinese Self-Driving Taxi Coming in 2025, Boston Dynamics Pranks Customers with Flying Robots
The latest edition of IoT Today is here, with the latest news in emerging technologies! Read about the Chinese self-driving taxi company’s plans to mass produce a self-driving taxi by 2025, and Boston Dynamics April Fools post announcing a spoof collaboration with jetpack developer Gravity Industries .
Plus, find out about Tesla ’s new plan to launch its own robotaxi by this summer, Cruise ’s self-driving vehicles returning to roads in Arizona and the Beijing-based flying taxi company approved for mass production.?
Chinese Self-Driving Taxi Coming in 2025, Mass Produced
Chinese ride-hailing company 滴滴 has announced its plan to mass produce a fully self-driving electric taxi by 2025, in a joint venture with Guangzhou automaker GAC Aion.
The companies said they have been granted a license to mass produce a fully autonomous, electric taxi capable of Level 4 automation.
The model in question will be marketed under the Andi brand, also headquartered in Guangzhou, and is set to go into production in 2025.
Although details about the new self-driving taxi are limited at this stage, Did said that it will feature its autonomous driving tech and safety redundancy system, as well as what it described as the “latest generation of in-cabin entertainment” for robotaxis.
If Robots Could Fly … Boston Dynamics Pranks Customers
Boston Dynamics tricked customers this April Fools’ Day, with a post on social media announcing its collaboration with jet pack developer Gravity Industries to give its bipedal robot Atlas the power to fly.?
According to the spoof post, possible applications for flying robots include lost balloon rescue and window washing, as well as in-air traffic controls and wildfire monitoring.?
“Trials of the new technology are already underway, with test flights commencing over Boston Harbor,” the company wrote. “As part of the research and development phase, Atlas will begin participating in Gravity’s new racing series alongside human athletes.”
Musk Says Tesla Self-Driving Taxi Coming in August
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed in a post on X that his company plans to commercialize a self-driving taxi by this summer.?
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“Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8,” Musk wrote.??
Few other details were shared, though the post came after Musk responded to a report by Reuters that Tesla was set to ditch its plan to develop a low-cost, $25,000 EV.
“Reuters is lying (again),” Musk wrote.
Subsequent activity from Musk on X provided no real clues, other than reaffirming Tesla’s belief that autonomy is achievable and will have game-changing consequences.
Cruise Self-Driving Vehicles Return to Phoenix Roads
Cruise confirmed in a blog post that it had resumed “manual operations” of its self-driving vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, essentially meaning it has resumed data-gathering activities with human drivers at the wheel.
It’s the most significant step yet taken by Cruise since the Oct. 2 accident in San Francisco that caused the company to suspend operations, after a pedestrian was dragged by one of its autonomous vehicles.?
The blog post explained: “As we continue working to rebuild trust and determine the city where we will scale driverless, we remain focused on continuing to improve our performance and overall safety approach.?
“To that end, Cruise is resuming manual driving to create maps and gather road information in select cities, starting in Phoenix.”?
Flying Taxi Startup Cleared for Mass Production; Pilotless Travel
Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle maker, EHang Holdings, has received governmental approval to mass produce its passenger-carrying pilotless vehicles.
The company’s EHE16-S electric aerial vehicle (EAV) previously received a standard airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the first of its kind globally for an EAV.
EHang recently hosted a flight demonstration in Costa Rica, showcasing the EAV’s suitability for aerial tourism. With the new approval, the company is now authorized for mass production.