China Quietly Gathering Data via Self-Driving Cars in the United States
Chinese robotaxis have logged 1.8 million miles in California alone
There is growing national security concern over the data Chinese robotaxi firms are gathering in the United States through self-driving vehicles equipped with cameras, lidar, microphones and other sensors. Chinese-owned companies Pony.ai, WeRide, Didi Research America, Baidu's Apollo, and AutoX have logged more than 1.8 million miles in California, according to Fortune.
The article says that the testing, which has occurred across Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose, has been going on for about six years. While the U.S. government has already scrutinized such companies as TikTok for its practices, it is not known how much sensitive privacy or national security data has been transferred to China—and thereby to its government.
Baidu’s privacy policies indicate it may process and store data in China. According to the article, Pony.ai transmitted data to China until 2021, while WeRide says it does not share data with the Chinese government.
There also is a big gap between regulatory policies in the U.S. vs. China. The Chinese government does not allow American companies to test their self-driving vehicle in their country. Tesla managed to get Chinese government buy in for its Full Self-Driving mode in China.
While other countries take a more cautious approach, China is embracing self-driving technology. China announced a list of 20 cities that will be testbeds for building smart and connected roads.
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My BMW App and MINI App Upgraded with Mapbox Tech
Saying that it is already in use by 7.8 million drivers, BMW Group and Mapbox this week announced the details of the new My BMW App and MINI App navigation solution. The integration of Mapbox technology into the app adds enhanced map design that includes a light and dark mode that is consistent between the in-car and mobile devices, the company said.
The integration also includes Mapbox Mobile Maps SDKs and Mapbox Flutter Plugin, which allows for future features including detailed 3D buildings and the smooth transfer of routes between device and vehicle, the company said.
The Mapbox Flutter Plugin, which began as a community-supported plugin, is now fully supported by Mapbox and receives regular updates based on customer feedback, the company said. “Tools like the Mapbox Flutter Plugin offer high convenience for our engineers developing for iOS and Android,"said Stefan Butz, BMW Group vice president, development business line, in a statement.
In other Mapbox news, the company is partnering with NATIX to offer navigation to more than 130,000 registered drivers on the NATIX Drive & app. The companies say, with Mapbox’ nav integration and data collected by NATIX, they can offer a navigation service similar to Waze and Google Maps.
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DOT Awards $7 million for Complementary PNT Technologies
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last week awarded contracts to nine Complementary Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology vendors. DOT says the awards, which total $7.2 million and awarded through its Volpe Center, will allow it to conduct real-world field tests of commercial PNT technologies.
DOT said because GPS relies on signals broadcast from satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), “its signal strength at the receiver is low and thus vulnerable to intentional and unintentional disruptions.”
Companies and their award amount:
The contracts were in response to the DOT Complementary PNT Action Plan. Overall, DOT says the funding will be for instrumentation, testing, and evaluation of Complementary PNT technologies at field test ranges in conjunction with critical infrastructure owners and operators.
“DOT is impressed with the quality of the proposal responses and received more proposals than could be funded under Simplified Acquisition Procedure guidelines. DOT intends to move expeditiously to issue a Complementary PNT Rapid Phase II solicitation to expand the set of Complementary PNT technologies to be evaluated,” said Robert Hampshire, DOT chief science officer, in a statement.
One of the awards went to NextNav $NN, which will offer 3D PNT technologies, which are terrestrial solutions. In 2021, the company said that DOT recognized its technology for indoor/outdoor positioning, including vertical location.
NextNav is petitioning the FCC to reconfigure the lower 900 MHz spectrum band (902-928 MHz) to optimize its use for a terrestrial complement and backup to GPS as well as additional spectrum for 5G broadband, the company said.
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Other Location News
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Top News:
🌎 Army RFI for Counter-PNT. The U.S. Army is asking industry about “… waveforms and techniques that limit the enemy’s ability to use PNT systems effectively.”
🙂 Find My Device Hits 500 Million Downloads on Google Play. Finding stuff is still important to people…
🛩 Russia Using New Tactic: Launching Reconnaissance Drones Without GPS Signal. “Russian forces have adopted a new tactic—deploying reconnaissance drones with their navigation switched off.”
📌 Can “AltPNT” Really Replace GPS? “Realistically, there is no singular solution to replace GPS, but we can make it more resilient with complementary technologies. It is important that we be clear about what really constitutes AltPNT, so as not to confuse it with augmentative ‘AugPNT.’”
🛰 Europe's Largest Ground Segment Updated With No User Impact. Is this a shot at GPS’ ground segment issues?
💲 Stellantis Invests Additional $55 Million In Archer Following Recent Flight Test Milestone. “This latest investment builds on Stellantis’ STLA 0.00%↑ series of open market purchases of 8.3 million shares of Archer’s ACHR 0.00%↑ stock in March of this year that was previously announced. During 2023, Stellantis invested $110 million in Archer through a combination of open market stock purchases and investments under the companies’ strategic funding agreement.”
Maps:
🙁 Google Maps Tests New Pop-Up Ads That Give You an Unnecessary Detour. “The ad reportedly appears while driving, which could cause distractions.”
🗺 India Gets Its Own Navigation Powerhouse: Unveiling Ola Maps. “Ola, a ride-hailing company, has mentioned that existing mapping providers lacked the detail and responsiveness needed for the Indian market, with incomplete street coverage, inconsistent naming, frequent changes, and variable traffic patterns.”
😐 Apple Maps Gets a Quiet Update Only the Luckiest Users Will Enjoy. “Apple Maps was supposed to become the number one Google Maps alternative, and the detailed city experience was the ambitious update whose role was to make it happen. Unfortunately, Apple showed little commitment to bringing this long overdue update to users worldwide, so the detailed city experience remains available in limited regions.”
🌍 Maxar Upgrades Satellite Imagery Basemaps. “The Vivid Advanced 15-centimeter HD basemap, unveiled July 9, will be particularly important for mapping and navigation applications, Bryan Smith, Maxar 2D products director, told SpaceNews.”
📱 Snapchat's Latest Features Help Users Personalize Their Accounts. “Snapchat+ subscribers can design a personalized house on Snap Map that will be visible to friends they share their location with. The new feature is a fun way for Snapchat to differentiate Snap Map from other location-based services like Apple’s Find My and Life360.”
🤔 Google Might Be Working on a New-Generation Google Maps Feature You Didn't Know You Need. “Apple is catching up in the navigation wars, and Google GOOG 0.00%↑ knows it can't afford to rest on its laurels. The company is working on several new-generation features for Google Maps, and one of the most recent has been spotted in a patent application. The patent describes a technology called ‘providing navigation instructions to one device in view of another device,’ and while its name sounds complex and complicated, the whole idea comes down to offering navigation for groups (or, at least, more than a just one device).”
👍 Mapme Joins the MapLibre Sponsorship Program.
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
🤷♂️ Waymo Robotaxi Pulled over by Phoenix Police After Driving Into the Wrong Lane. “A police officer pulled over a self-driving Waymo vehicle in Phoenix after it ran a red light and pulled into a lane of oncoming traffic, according to dispatch records.”
🚗 HARMAN and CARIAD Announce Growing Ecosystem with New Apps Within Volkswagen Group Vehicles. New apps soon available in the Group Application Store include: Booking.com, Eventseeker, Livil and others.
🤔 Waymo’s Robotaxi Rollout is a Landmark Moment for Driverless Cars. “Waymo is making self-driving taxis available to everyone in San Francisco while some of its rivals are stumbling.”
🤞 Testing Underway for 'Smart Road' Pilot Project on I-94. “The pilot project is a joint effort by the Michigan Department of Transportation and Cavnue, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that develops and integrates technologies for roadways.”
🚘 Audi Is Adding ChatGPT Into Existing Cars Going Back to 2021, More Going Forward. “Audi is adding ChatGPT to two million cars. Drivers will be able to control their cars AC, infotainment, and navigation systems with their voice.”
😐 Toyota to Launch First EV with Advanced Self-Driving System for China in 2025. “It will compete with Tesla's TSLA 0.00%↑ Full Self Driving suite”
Fleet Telematics:
🚍 Geotab and BYD Trucks Europe Deal To Deliver Integrated Telematics. “The firm, part of Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD, will equip its electric trucks imported to Europe with Geotab’s telematics hardware.”
🚚 TMC Selects Trimble Instinct and Video Intelligence Solutions.
📈 Transflo Adds to Its Technology Portfolio, Acquires RMJ Technologies’ Telematics Assets.
✔ Fleetio Prioritizes Partnerships and Product Enhancements for Strong Growth in First Half of 2024.
🚙 Targa Telematics Recognized with Frost & Sullivan's 2024 European Customer Value Leadership Award.
Drones:
🤨 What Happens if You Shoot Down a Delivery Drone? “Incidents are still rare. However, a recent arrest in Florida, in which a man allegedly shot down a Walmart WMT 0.00%↑ drone, raises questions of what the legal ramifications are and whether those consequences could escalate if these events become more common. “
😕 The Anti-Jamming Tech Helping Ukraine Combat Drones at the Cost of Smartphones. “Auterion, a Switzerland-based open-source autonomous computing tech provider, has unveiled a new solution that allows militaries to combat drones at the cost of smartphones.”
✈ Russian Jamming Is Wreaking Havoc on GPS in Eastern Europe. But Is It Hybrid Warfare? “Is it just spillover from Russian air defense and force protection measures—jamming GPS so Ukrainian drones can’t use it to find their Russian targets? Or is it something more deliberate, targeted at GPS in non-combatant countries?”
😮 Drone Show Fail: What Happened to Cause 55 Drones to Fall Out of the Sky? “The sudden loss of GPS signals affected select drones, causing them to lose their orientation and making it safer for them to descend into the lake rather than risk erratic flight paths to return home. The incident is currently under investigation by the FAA and other relevant agencies.”
🎖 Army Testing 'Pocket-Sized' Drones That Could Soon Be in the Hands of Every Squad.
Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
TomTom and East View Geospatial to Supply Map Data for Australian Military
TomTom [TOM2], with East View Geospatial, will supply global map data to Australian Government Department of Defense. EVG leverages TomTom Orbis Maps to create an ArcGIS-ready global vector basemap, the company said.
In other company news, TomTom last week partnered with Bolt to provide traffic data for its global ride-hailing and food-delivery routing. Bolt operates in over 500 cities in Europe and Africa, with over 150 million customers worldwide.
Contact: TomTom, www.tomtom.com.
Harada to Manufacture Sigfox 0G Tracking Solution
Harada Industry has partnered with UnaBiz to design and manufacture a Sigfox 0G technology-based vehicle tracking solution and in-vehicle antenna for the automotive industry. The collaboration between Harada and UnaBiz involves joint efforts from its R&D teams to create a “Film-type Vehicle Smart Tracker” that can be attached to the windshield of automobiles, the company said.
The transparent film tracker will not obstruct the driver’s view, and its placement at the top of the windshield improves the radio wave environment, enhancing Sigfox 0G network reception, the company said. Micware will also be working with UnaBiz to develop the tracking and telemetry software platform.
Contact UnaBiz Japan, sales-japan@unabiz.com.
HERE Says Its ISA Map Is the Preferred Choice To Meet EU Intelligent Speed Assistance Requirements
HERE Technologies says its ISA Map, currently used by 70 brands from 33 vehicle makers, is the preferred choice to meet European Union’s (EU) Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) regulation. On July 6, the regulation will expand to all newly registered vehicles in the EU, the company said.
ISA is an in-vehicle system that utilizes real-time speed limit data to issue warnings, inform drivers, and deter them from exceeding statutory speed limits on EU roadways, the company said. Since July 2022, all new passenger and commercial vehicle types and models introduced in the EU are required to be equipped with an ISA solution.
Contact: Sebastian Kurme, HERE Technologies, 49 173 515 3549,
sebastian.kurme@here.com. www.here.com.
PTV Group to Launch New Data Platform
PTV Group will launch its PTV Access data platform that offers APIs to integrate location and mobility data into software solutions, providing value for real estate platform operators or retailers. These include powerful interfaces to deliver data from transport models as well as public and commercial sources, the company said.
Real estate platform providers can determine and integrate an index for each of their listings that indicates the accessibility of frequently visited facilities such as kindergartens, schools, restaurants, supermarkets, discount stores, pharmacies, hospitals and more. The API allows users to filter and find properties that match their daily mobility needs, the company said.
Contact: Ira Steinhoff, PTV Group, 4915152749201, ira.steinhoff@ptvgroup.com, www.ptvgroup.com.
LLumin and Azuga Partner
LLumin has partnered with Azuga to integrate Azuga Fleet with its CMMS+ software for preventative maintenance and asset management. The integration features GPS fleet tracking, vehicle diagnostics, and driver rewards. LLumin's CMMS+ integrated with Azuga Fleet also features real-time insights to minimize downtime, expedite repairs, and reduce mean time to repair, the company said.
Contact: Valerie Harding, for Azuga, (617) 536-8887, valerie@rippleeffectpr.com.
Hastings Direct and CMT Renew Partnership
Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) and Hastings Direct, a provider of insurance broking services to the UK private car, van, motorbike and home insurance markets, announced that they’ve renewed their partnership. Launched in 2020, the YouDrive program uses CMT’s DriveWell Fusion platform.
In other company news, Najm has partnered with CMT to launch a new telematics initiative in Saudi Arabia. Najm has partnered with CMT for information solutions, analyze and process advanced driving data, and provide actionable insights to reduce accidents and improve road safety.
Contact: Cambridge Mobile Telematics, www.cmtelematics.com.
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STMicroelectronics Integrates Ceva Cellular IoT Platform in its NB-IoT Industrial Module
STMicroelectronics has integrated Ceva’s $CEVA Ceva-Waves Dragonfly NB-IoT platform into its recently introduced ST87M01 modules that combine NB-IoT data communication with GNSS geo-location capability for IoT devices and assets. IoT use cases include smart meters, smart grid, smart buildings, smart cities and smart infrastructure applications, the company said.
The Ceva-Waves Dragonfly platform integrates a Ceva-BX1 processor, an optimized RF transceiver, baseband, and a protocol stack to offer a complete Release 15 Cat-NB2 modem IP solution that reduces time-to-market and lowers entry barriers, the company said.
Contact: Ceva, www.ceva-ip.com/product/dragonfly.
Precisely Announces New Location Services
Precisely has announced new services for the Precisely Data Integrity Suite that includes Spatial Analytics and Data Enrichment services to offer location-aware capabilities. Spatial Analytics empowers enterprises with location-based data to surface deeper, more valuable insights—including the patterns, trends, and relationships between location-based datasets, the company said. Additionally, Spatial Analytics’ insights can be easily shared through enriched business processes, maps, and out-of-the-box reports, increasing revenue growth, the company said.
Contact: Precisely, www.precisely.com.
Woolpert Contracted to Acquire Orthoimagery for Ohio
The state of Ohio has tasked Woolpert to acquire orthoimagery for its Ohio Statewide Imagery and Remote Sensing Program (OSIP) under a four-year contract. The data, collected as part of OSIP’s Statewide Imagery and Remote Sensing Data Acquisition Project, will support a range of uses, including economic development, infrastructure, conservation, and emergency response planning, the company said. Woolpert will deliver three-band natural color digital orthoimagery and establish additional optional services for state agencies and local governments, including digital orthoimagery, lidar, and photogrammetric feature extraction services, the company said.
Contact: Woolpert, www.woolpert.com.
Teledyne Geospatial Launches Galaxy Edge
Teledyne Geospatial has announced the Galaxy Edge airborne lidar solution. Galaxy Edge features high-resolution data with efficient acquisition in steep terrain, resulting in lower carbon footprint and a 20-50 percent reduction in collection costs, the company said.
In addition, the solution responds to market needs for uniform point density by accelerating the scan speed and delivering straight and parallel scan lines, the company said.
Contact: Jennifer Parham, Teledyne Geospatial, jennifer.parham@teledyne.com.
Spire Wins Canadian Ship Tracking Contract
Spire Global SPIR 0.00%↑ was awarded a 1.41 million Canadian dollar contract by the government of Canada for global automatic identification system (AIS) ship tracking data. The one-year contract includes options for two additional years, extending the total potential contract value to nearly Canadian $4.23 million. Under the contract, Spire will offer global ship tracking data, providing visibility in both open oceans and high-traffic zones, the company said.
Contact: Sarah Freeman, Spire, comms@spire.com, www.spire.com.
Ubisense Unveils Dual UWB And RTK-GPS Technology
Ubisense has launched its Dimension4 RTK-Tag that uses both Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and signal-corrected RTK-GPS to track assets across both indoor and outdoor areas with up to 5-centimeter accuracy, the company said. The new RTK-Tag supports both Ubisense and third-party transit yard management solutions that address common industry challenges such as space constraints, parking strategies that enable on-time dispatch, and the increasing complexity of maintenance and charging operations with the electrification of fleets, the company said.
Contact: Ubisense, www.ubisense.com.
People
Xavier Orr is retiring as co-CEO of Advanced Navigation.
Sammy Loitto has resigned as CEO of Quuppa due to health reasons, according to his LinkedIn.
u-blox has announced that Camila Japur is its new CFO and member of the executive committee.
HERE Technologies has appointed Adeel Manzoor as COO. Manzoor was the company’s CFO.
Point One Navigation has named Tom Weeks as COO.
Dana Goward, Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation president, has been named a fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.
Gerd Bitterlich has been named CEO at Mercedes-Benz Vietnam.
James Thomas has been named Comtech’s CMTL 0.00%↑ vice president of government affairs.
CalAmp has named Paul Washicko as our new senior vice president of product management.
KORE has named Bruce Gordon as executive vice president and COO.
Nicholas Kammes has been named vice president of sales, Eastern US and Canada at Telit Cinterion.
CONTROLTEK has promoted Wade Holman to vice president of strategic accounts, North America.
Glympse has promoted Nick Kirkman to director, solutions engineering.
Seongho Hong has been named director of sales and business development at Visteon Corp.
EnVue Telematics has named David Press as director of sales.
Jobs
Vice President Marketing. Kontakt.io.
Senior Business Development Manager Ecosystem - Europe. Swift Navigation.
Strategic Sales Manager (Enterprise Sales). TomTom.
Strategic Enterprise Sales Japan. TomTom.
Sales Development Representative. Hivemapper.
Sales Manager – Machine Control. CNH.
Connectivity / PAAS Sales Manager. Quectel.
Sales Development Representative. Woolpert.
Sr. Vehicle Controls Algorithm Engineer. Aptiv.
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