John Deere and SpaceX Partner for Autonomy, Other Services
Company has own GNSS augmentation service...
Solidifying its position as one of the top industrial users of satellite technology, John Deere DE 0.00%↑ this week signed a deal with SpaceX to provide satellite communications service to farmers. Using the SpaceX Starlink network, the venture will allow farmers with connectivity challenges to leverage precision agriculture technologies, the company said.
The SATCOM solution will connect new and existing John Deere machines through satellite internet service and terminals. This service will enable autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication, the company said.
John Deere has been one of the earliest adopters of location technology—even operating its own global satellite augmentation network. The company operates the StarFire Network, which corrects GNSS signals for agriculture use. The network allows the company to autonomously operate tractors, place seeds and develop its own maps, the company said.
“John Deere has led the agriculture equipment industry for more than two decades with satellite-based precision guidance technology,” said Jahmy Hindman, company senior vice president and CTO, in a statement. “We are bringing satellite communications service to the farm at scale so farmers with cellular coverage challenges can maximize the value of connectivity to their operations.” J
The SATCOM solution will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil starting in the second half of 2024.
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CES Roundup 2024: Maps, Fleets, Auto, Location Devices…
LAS VEGAS—Overture Maps Foundation Executive Director Marc Prioleau said at CES that the organization’s main assumption is that the base layers of a map should be open and shared. “There still is going to be a ton of growth in map data, but all that growth right now is at the top end—let’s share it,” he said. “As map base layers open up, so do market opportunities.”
Prioleau said that even Overture’s naysayers never say it’s a bad idea. “They say it’s a great idea and realize it is super hard to do,” he said. “But our reasoning is if you have a great team, why should you do the easy stuff? We understand that some people say that they do map data and that’s their secret sauce and it is proprietary.”
Such larger foundation members as TomTom [TOM2] AWS AMZN 0.00%↑, Microsoft MSFT 0.00%↑ and Meta META 0.00%↑ usually set the direction for the organization, with smaller companies on topic task forces, Prioleau said. This week, Overture released its Overture 2024-01-17-alpha.0, which adds geopolitical boundary information and expansion of GERS IDs across several themes.
Prioleau said that in the old days of mapping, companies drove around in vehicles to detail and survey different areas. “They believed that the best maps were the ones that had the most people surveying. Now, it is the map that gets used the most,” he said.
In other CES map news, what3words added several new auto OEMs in the past year—and had their location features added to existing partners, said Giles Rhys Jones, company chief marketing officer.
“Our partnership with Subaru features great offline capability and voice instructions that do not require data connection. You just say, ‘what3words,’ and off you go,” he said.
One of the growing areas for the company is the technology’s use for emergency services, Rhys Jones said. “Nearly every single state uses what3words for emergency services. Recently, a person in Illinois got lost and couldn’t describe the area he was in to 911 operators. He just said the three words he was located and emergency services found him.”
Rhys Jones said that state parks are using what3words on their park signage. In addition, the large delivery companies are using the map service.
“If you want your package delivered to a certain area such as a front door step or back door, it can be printed on the delivery label to be placed where you want it,” he said.
What3words also is expanding their relationship with HERE Technologies for car navigation and for “broader use,” Rhys Jones said.
For individual and asset tracking, Singapore-based Tack rolled out its Tack GPS Plus, which features indoor and outdoor tracking services. Some applications include tracking people, goods and assets, including vulnerable patients and family members, said Justin Zhang, Tack co-founder and CEO.
“This independent tracker doesn’t rely on a cell phone to work. It also has a 30-day battery life, he said. “We are the first to introduce indoor elevation tracking.”
In other CES news:
Ridecell, which displayed its Fleet Transportation Cloud technology, is transforming from a mobility company to a fleet company, said Jason Walton, Ridecell director of product marketing. “We were in mobility, but our focus now is on these big fleets with so much data and systems—they need to bring it together,” he said. “An example is when a vehicle needs to be picked up and delivered [to a rental car agency], we know it hits the lot via GPS, but then we send an automated message to the pickup company. Before, it was a hit-or-miss phone call or email, now the message is an automated task. Companies also will know if the vehicle was not picked up in a timely manner.”
Sheeva.AI has announced the launch of a global API to make it easier for automakers and Tier 1 suppliers to integrate the firm’s SheevaConnect in-vehicle services and payments product suite. The company said having a global API gateway means that automakers, with multi-brand footprint in different regions, can go from a pilot project with one brand to an accelerated rollout of Sheeva.AI-enabled connected services and payments.
Quectel Wireless Solutions and Morse Micro announced that the Quectel FGH100M Wi-Fi HaLow module has received CE certification for Europe and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification for the US. The company also said it achieved certification of CC660D-LS—for use by Skylo on its network.
Bridgestone highlighted products for fleets. The company displayed its Fleet Care product suite, which includes GPS tracking, video telematics, driver behavior management, accident reduction solutions, route optimization and asset utilization tools. The company also launched EV Services Platform for fleets.
MyRadar launched “Powered by MyRadar'' to enable developers to integrate weather and environmental data into organizations’ apps and software solutions.
LG Electronics held a private demonstration for automakers at CES to introduce a cross-domain platform integrating Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Automated Driving (AD) and In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) technologies.
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Lidar Companies Find Other Markets for Profit
LAS VEGAS—Despite fears of automotive market saturation, there were dozens of companies offering lidar sensors for automotive and other uses at CES. Some companies are offering products for markets besides auto OEMs.
PreAct Technologies announced new flash lidar sensors: Sahara, Borrego and Moab for agriculture, healthcare, smart cities, retail, security, transportation and education markets. “They are variants of our Mojave sensor. They have higher power and a wider field of view,” said Paul Drysch, PreAct co-founder and CEO.
While still strong in automotive markets, Drysch said that the robotics, retail and security segments are growth areas. At CES, the company partnered with Outsight for monitoring people in high-traffic areas such as airports and rail stations.
“Outsight was paying $2,000 to $3,000 for lidar pucks. While we may not have same range, at $200, they can put the lidar in hallways, entry points and other areas for a magnitude of lower cost,” Drysch said.
In retail, lidar use is taking off. “We have a proof of concept with one of the largest fast food chains for operational efficiency. They want to find out how many people are waiting line, how long they wait, when they go to the restrooms, do they slip and fall, where is trash build up,” he said.
Also at CES, Chinese lidar company RoboSense rolled out its M2 and M3 sensors. The M3 is designed for Level 3 automated driving, while the M2 is a lower-cost version of previous lidar sensors.
Owl Autonomous Imaging Promotes Thermal Tech to OEMs
In other CES auto news, Owl Autonomous Imaging is touting its thermal imaging technology, which is going down in price and is accurate, to OEMs.
Thermal imaging has a long history, but lacked resolution and had a high cost in the past. “We are coming out with a megapixel solution in the 2028-2029 timeframe that will only be a few hundred dollars to an OEM, not the $10,000 that it is today. It is really changing the marketplace,” said Wade Appelman, Owl Autonomous Imaging chief business officer.
Appelman said that lidar does not have enough resolution, or pixels to accurately target individuals. “Thermal doesn’t give you lidar’s ranging accuracy, but it isn’t bad. While there are $500 lidar systems right now, the companies are losing money on them,” he said. “It doesn’t take an OEM long to replace a $500 system with a $200 system.”
While the thermal auto market will be driven by OEMs that will bring the price of thermal systems down, other use cases include construction vehicles, conveyor belt movers, smart cities and drones, Appelman said.
In other CES news:
Mobileye MBLY 0.00%↑ said its lidar was selected by “a major Western automaker.” The deal includes integration of its SuperVision, Chauffeur and Drive to multiple brands.
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Point One Navigation Used in Indy Autonomous Challenge
LAS VEGAS—San Francisco-based Point One Navigation’s Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections technology was used by all autonomous racecars in the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC). The race, part of CES 2024, which was won by TUM Autonomous Motorsport from the Technical University of Munich.
While some industry observers question the utility of autonomous racing, Point One Navigation CEO Aaron Nathan believes that the races are a good proving ground to test technology in that environment. “The challenges faced by cars exceeding 180 mph are categorically different—the penalties for failure are much higher. The fact that latency is not there is not tolerable,” he said. “You see production companies struggle with these issues as they go to scale.”
Point One has seen its GPS solutions placed into 75,000 cars, Nathan said. “We are also expanding into other forms of mobility from Level 4 vehicles and motorcycles,” he said. “Consumer robotics like lawnmowers have been a growth sector for us. Traditional GIS service, land surveying, photogrammetry for drones and delivery vehicles have also been a growth area.
Nathan said the company plans to announce a nationwide L-band service in the second quarter. “Unlike our competitors, it will be a full continental U.S. rollout with 3-5 centimeters in horizontal accuracy,” he said.
Other Location News
News tip? Send them to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
Top News:
👍 Qualcomm CEO Amon Tips Vehicles as Next Computing Hotbed. “At CES, the company unveiled a range of products based on its Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform to support generative AI digital cockpits, connected car technologies, connected services, and advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems.”
CES 2024: No-No's from Torc. Roger Lanctot: “CEO Peter Vaughn Schmidt asserted that the platooning of commercial freight-hauling trucks was a terrible idea that would never work and should not be pursued. He also stated that teleoperation for commercial vehicles ought only be used in confined locations. If you’ve never met Schmidt you might be unfamiliar with his uncompromising manner of expression and his very serious demeanor.”
😮 China Chip Imports Fall at Record Pace. “Widening U.S. export curbs on advanced semiconductors pushed China’s imports to a record low in 2023.”
🤞 Siemens Mobility Rolls Out Geofencing Technology Nationally. “Siemens Mobility, has announced the national rollout of new geofencing technology across its UK business operations.”
💲 NGA Awards Maxar Intelligence a Task Order for Precision3D Data. “The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency awarded Maxar Intelligence a $7.8 million task order to provide the agency with a Precision3D data bundle covering an area within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.”
🛰 Iridium Invites IoT Community to Pitch Requirements for Its Satellite NB-IoT Network. Satellite comms provider Iridium Communications is inviting device makers, chipmakers, mobile operators, and IoT developers to have their say on the functionality of its developing NB-IoT satellite network.
📌 Mytraffic Acquires Geoblink.
Maps:
🏆 HERE Technologies ranked No. 1 in the latest Counterpoint Technology Platform Effectiveness Index. Counterpoint Research cited HERE’s efforts in map data richness, robust platform capabilities, strategic partnerships, and an expanding customer base across industries.
⚡ Google Is Bringing Chrome Browser to Cars, Even More EV Features to Maps. “Google Maps is adding more EV-centric features for those who use Android Auto from their connected phone, starting with the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mach-E.”
🚆 Google Maps for Android Now Offers Bluetooth Beacon Support for Enhanced Tunnel Navigation. “he integration of Bluetooth beacon technology in the app marks a significant advancement in providing accurate directions even when GPS signals are unavailable.”
🥇 Mapillary Celebrates 10 Years and 2 Billion Images. “Mapillary turned 10 years old and reached the milestone of over 2 billion images on the platform.”
🌍 London Is Still the World's Slowest City — Highlights From the Latest TomTom Traffic Index. “Covering traffic trends for 2023, this year’s edition surveys 387 cities around the globe and covers metrics such as congestion, average travel time, the impact of rush hour and the environmental impact of congestion in our cities.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
🚚 Continental and Aurora Finalize Design of Scalable Autonomous Trucking System.
😉 CES Autonomous: TIER IV, Mobileye & Lotus Robotics. “TIER IV started the Co-MLOps project. Mobileye’s three key platforms – Mobileye SuperVision, Mobileye Chauffeur and Mobileye Drive—will be deployed in ICE vehicles. Lotus is offering robotics software, cloud and monitoring.”
🚘 Forget Self-Driving Cars — CES 2024 Showed Us How AI Will Truly Benefit Drivers. “Voice controls are a crucial safety feature in modern cars, especially ones that are overly-reliant on touchscreens. It means you can get stuff done without taking your eyes off the road.”
🚛 TuSimple's Self-Driving Trucks up for Auction Following US Exit. “The trucks, along with a slew of research and development equipment and office supplies, will be sold off in two online auctions.”
🚘 Kia Enables Drivers to Access Location-Based Services With 4SCREEN. “Currently active in the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland, with further countries coming, 4screen is available to Kia drivers via an online software update.”
🙁 Mobileye’s Excess Inventory Hints at Longer Road Ahead for Autonomous Vehicles. “Mobileye, which is owned by Intel INTC 0.00%↑, has said that the excess inventory should be worked down through the next few quarters, as car manufacturers themselves are showing evidence of lower than expected production.”
Drones:
🛩 Drone Powerhouse DJI Gets Into the Delivery Business. “The Flycart 30, a beefcake of a drone, can fly up to 10 miles with 66 pounds of cargo like solar panels or construction supplies.”
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Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
PointPerfect GNSS Correction Serviced Expands to Brazil
Nordian and u-blox [UBXN] have announced expanded coverage of the PointPerfect GNSS correction service to Brazil, a growing market for GNSS applications. The deal between u-blox and Nordian will allow such applications as high-precision agriculture, but also service robots, machinery automation, micro- mobility, lane-accurate navigation and telematics. PointPerfect's recently announced Localized Distribution feature, which uses 90 percent less data, significantly reduces user costs, the company said.
Contact: Natacha Seitz, u-blox, 41 76 436 0788, natacha.seitz@u-blox.com.
Septentrio Rolls Out AntaRX Smart Antenna
Septentrio has launched the AntaRx smart antenna, which will be added to its GNSS receiver portfolio that is marketed to large construction companies. The receiver technology integrates Septentrio’s GNSS+ algorithms, including advanced multipath mitigation in a ruggedized housing, the company said.
The new offering allows equipment manufacturers and system integrators to have INS integration, dual-mode antenna and 4G cellular communication, the company said.
Contact: Septentrio, www.septrentrio.com.
CerebrumX Labs Partners With HD Fleet
CerebrumX Labs has partnered with HD Fleet, a provider of GPS fleet management solutions. CerebrumX's technology uses built-in GPS systems in vehicles to gather real-time diagnostic information, the company said. HD Fleet's dashcams give fleet managers a comprehensive view of their fleet's activities, the company said.
Contact: CerebrumX, connect@cerebrumx.ai, https://cerebrumx.ai.
ZIM Announces Agreement with Hoopo Systems
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ZIM 0.00%↑ has partnered with Hoopo Systems for the wide-scale deployment of tracking devices in its dry-van container fleet. In 2022, ZIM made an investment in Hoopo Systems, which developed its hoopoSense Solar for the maritime industry.
ZIM is adopting the Hoopo tracking solution for its dry-van container fleet.
Contact: Avner Shats, ZIM, 972-4-865-2520, shats.avner@zim.com, www.zim.com.
Wiliot Showcases Retail Tracking at NRF 2024
Wiliot has exhibited its location technology at NRF 2024 last week in New York. Wiliot will demonstrated ambient IoT, tracking products in transit, throughout a warehouse, and within a retail store. Features include tracking through truck-based IoT gateway and an integrated telematics system and item-level location tracking.
Contact: Wiliot, www.wiliot.com.
Fleet Complete Launches OEM Telematics Data Support With Stellantis
Fleet Complete has launched its OEM telematics data support for Stellantis connected vehicles, which include Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler, through Mobilisights, the Stellantis Data as a Service Company. FC Hub, Fleet Complete's cloud-based fleet management software, is now integrated with Stellantis' embedded telematics, found in vehicles manufactured from 2019 onward, the company said.
The company said as multi-vendor, EV hybrid fleets becoming increasingly more common, fleet managers now rely on OEM telematics data support through a common platform for a 360-degree view of their fleet.
Contact: Fleet Complete, media@fleetcomplete.com, www.fleetcomplete.com.
MoveEV Partners With Geotab
MoveEV, an AI-powered EV transition platform, has partnered with Geotab to integrate MoveEV's ReimburseEV into the Geotab Marketplace. MoveEV’s integration with Geotab's robust platform enables fleets with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to use a unified solution for home charging reimbursements, the company said. Through this integration, MoveEV can access charging data directly from fleet vehicles.
Contact: Stacy Callahan, for MoveEV, (917) 972-1101, stacy@astonishmediagroup.com, www.moveev.com/reimburseev-geotab.
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ProStar Integrates PointMan into Cable and Pipe Locating Devices
ProStar Holdings has integrated its PointMan into Rycom Instruments’ cable and pipe locating devices. The integration allows Rycom Instrument’s Pathfinder devices to capture, record, and share the location of buried utilities and pipelines. ProStar’s goal is to establish strong strategic business partnerships with all major equipment manufacturers of cable and pipe locate devices, ground penetrating radar, and GPS/GNSS receivers, the company said.
Contact: Joel Sutherland, ProStar, (970) 822-4792, www.prostarcorp.com.
Queclink Launches Vehicle Tracker
Queclink has introduced the GB100CG vehicle tracker that is designed for automobile insurance and usage-based insurance (UBI) markets. GB100CG offers Cat 1 support for adaptability in the Europe region.
The GB100CG allows insurance companies and service providers to collect data on the road, the company said. The device comes with such tracking and detecting features as mileage logging, crash detection, and driver behavior monitoring.
Contact: Queclink, www.queclink.com.
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People
Quuppa has named Soile Kankaanpää as CEO. Kankaanpää, who replaces Sammy Loitto, joins Quuppa from ISS Finland, where she was chief commercial officer.
J. Blake Bullock has been named vice president, devices product management at Axon.
Advanced Navigation has named Christopher McNamara as chief revenue officer.
Joseph Scislowicz has been named business development manager, SWX, at Stellantis.
Dan Lukasik has been appointed to the ITS California board of directors.
Digital Matter North America named Ava Bilimoria as customer experience manager.
Jobs
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