The Oryx LiDAR system uses a sensor that's roughly the same cost of a smartphone camera. .

Tech Watch - Oct. '17

Investing Big in LiDAR (Again) The race is on for next generation LiDAR technology that will be the foundation of autonomous driving and big investors are making chase.

Altair Radioss has a variety of new shell elements to better analyze composite failures in vehicular crashes. This simulation is of an offset frontal impact with a moving deformable barrier.

Advances in Structural Simulations

HyperWorks 2017 helps engineer strong, light, efficient structures.

IAC’s Dr. Rose Ann Ryntz, vice president, Advanced Development and Material Engineering, thinks that there will be a “revolution” in the auto industry—at both the OEM and supplier level—that will “drive the companies as we know them today to become more agile, smaller and to learn to work with competencies that will make them more efficient.”

Craftsmanship, Autonomy and a Transformed Industry

Dr. Rose Ann Ryntz, vice president, Advanced Development and Material Engineering, IAC, thinks that the autonomous transformation isn’t going to happen quite as soon as some think (and probably in Europe before the U.S.), but when it does, there will be non-trivial changes to the structure of the auto industry.

California Ready to Okay No-Driver Vehicle Testing on Public Roads

California plans to allow testing on public roads of autonomous vehicles that have no steering wheel, foot pedals or driver on board.

Yes, this is a lawn mower. But not just any grass clipper. The Indego 400 Connect is able to determine the best path for cutting the lawn and then executing, but it is also smartphone-enabled. Tech like this can help with the development of the tech that will drive you to the golf course (because you don’t need to be cutting your lawn because the robotic lawn mower is doing it for you).

Bosch Advances Autonomy (Even for Lawns & Parking Garages)

Robotic lawn mowers and self-parking technologies—these are the sorts of things that are making autonomous technology possible and more appealing.

McLaren’s Monocell carbon fiber tub first used on the MP4 12C, and was the starting point for all McLaren road cars to follow. Aluminum and/or steel was used for the upper structure until the P1 hybrid super car bonded a woven carbon fiber roof section to the tub to create the Monocage.

Multiple Choices for Light, High-Performance Chassis

How carbon fiber is utilized is as different as the vehicles on which it is used. From full carbon tubs to partial panels to welded steel tube sandwich structures, the only limitation is imagination.

Partners to Test Self-Driving Delivery Vehicles in Germany

German package delivery service Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL) is preparing to launch a test fleet of self-driving electric delivery trucks next year that will be equipped with technology from Nvidia and ZF Friedrichshafen.

Autoliv, MIT Partner on Deep-Learning Research

Sweden’s Autoliv Inc. is launching a two-year research program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab to develop a prototype semi-autonomous vehicle system with “human-centered” artificial intelligence.

Porsche Touts Fast-Charging System, Unveils Electric Cayman Concept

Porsche AG says its “Turbo Charging” system can recharge an electric vehicle’s battery to 80% capacity in 15 minutes, which is twice as fast as current 50-kW fast-charging stations in Europe. 

Porsche Tests Subscription Plan in Atlanta

Porsche AG is testing a service in Atlanta that enables customers to pay a flat monthly fee for on-demand access to a range of its sports cars and SUV/crossover models.