U.S. Government on Verge of Banning Chinese Software for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Level 3 automation and above software could be barred…
The U.S. government, specifically the Commerce Department, plans to ban Chinese software for connected and autonomous vehicles, according to press reports. A proposed rules announcement, expected in a few weeks, includes provisions that would ban Chinese software with Level 3 automation and above.
This decision could ban testing by Chinese robotaxi companies who are currently testing autonomous vehicles on U.S. highways. As part of this ban, the Biden administration also would prohibit vehicles with Chinese-made wireless communication modules, according to Reuters.
Late last month, the White House and State Department hosted a meeting with allies, partners and industry leaders to address the national security risks associated with connected vehicles, following the launch of a U.S. regulatory process earlier this year.
Officials from the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other partner nations exchanged views on the data and cybersecurity risks associated with connected vehicles and certain components, according to the State Department.
Last month, Location Business News reported that 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.
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Nokia and Swisscom Broadcast To Deploy Largest Drones-as-a-Service Network
Swisscom Broadcast will be using Nokia NOK 0.00%↑ drones to deploy a nationwide Drones-as-a-Service network across Switzerland. Approximately 300 Nokia Drone-in-a-Box units will be employed to enable emergency response, perimeter protection and infrastructure inspection, the companies say.
Nokia Drone Networks, which are also deployed in Belgium's Citymesh initiative, will feature 3GPP technologies for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) autonomous operation, the company said.
Public safety agencies in Switzerland can access the nationwide drone network by requesting a drone flight, similar to a ride-sharing service, from Swisscom Broadcast, the company said. The service will be available in all areas of Switzerland.
The drones, with video and thermal cameras, will also inspect tall or hard-to-reach infrastructure for industrial workers, the company said. In addition, industrial customers will be able to create 3D maps or detect assets using the service.
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FCC Seeking Public Comment on NextNav Petition
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a public notice seeking comment on NextNav’s $NN filing to reconfigure the Lower 900 MHz band (902-928 MHz band).
In April, NextNav filed a rulemaking petition asking the FCC to not only reconfigure the Lower 900 MHz band, but to adopt new rules to enable a terrestrial 3D PNT network to complement and back up GPS. The company contends that “the rearrangement of the band would also free up 15 MHz of valuable low-band spectrum for 5G broadband while appropriately protecting incumbent operations.”
NextNav CEO Mariam Sorond said that the spectrum band reconfiguration compliments GPS to continue location mapping and tracking services and national security needs. “Moreover, our plan creates abundance from scarcity in this band by unleashing much-needed spectrum for wireless technology. These common-sense solutions can benefit consumers and our national interests at no cost to taxpayers,” Sorond said.
NextNav, which is the primary geographic licensee in the Lower 900 MHz Band, said much of it is underused because of antiquated rules. The new reconfigured band, the company contends, will allow terrestrial PNT services for GPS.
Comments are due pretty quickly as the FCC has set a Sept. 5, 2024, deadline. After that, the federal agency will review the comments to develop proposed rules.
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Other Location News
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Top News:
🚍 Self-Driving Truck Startup Aurora Innovation Raises $483 Million in Share Sale Ahead of Commercial Launch. “The company, which had arranged to sell up to $420 million worth of shares, exceeded its goal and raised $483 million. The newly raised funds come a little over a year since Aurora completed a capital raise of $820 million from a public and concurrent private offering of its stock.”
👍 HID Acquires Sewio Networks. “The addition of Sewio expands HID’s growing RTLS portfolio, particularly for asset tracking use cases in automotive and manufacturing.”
👉 Vodafone Turns on LTE-M in the UK, Claims a Full House of IoT Tech. “The operator, which has hitherto steered customers looking to connect battery-powered IoT monitoring applications onto its NB-IoT network, now has a twin-set of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technologies available, to go alongside higher-powered 4G and 5G services.”
📌 Targa Telematics Rebrands British Subsidiaries as Targa Viasat UK. This move follows Targa Telematics’ acquisition of Viasat Connect in 2023. Viasat Connect, originally Enigma Vehicle Systems, has more than 30 years of experience in stolen vehicle recovery and the construction sector.
🌎 Test and Measurement: Calian To Take over R&S' DOCSIS Portfolio. “Rohde & Schwarz said this week that its longterm partner, Calian, is going to take over the R&S DOCSIS portfolio.”
⚡ Lebanon Lodges Complaint With UN Over Israel's Disruption of Its GPS Systems. “The complaint is based on a report by Beirut’s Ministry of Telecommunications which found that signal interference from northern Israel led to a decline in the accuracy of navigation systems in Lebanon, impacting a host of applications.”
🎖 GMV Advances Lunar Rover Navigation With FASTNAV Project. “The Multi-Range Navigation for Fast Moon Rovers project, known as FASTNAV, is spearheading the development of advanced navigation solutions for the next generation of lunar exploration rovers.”
🛰 NOAA Teams up With Agriculture, Interior on Satellite Wildfire Detection. “Interior and the Forest Service will work with NOAA to use data from a fleet of weather satellites to improve the speed and accuracy of wildfire tracking.”
Maps:
🚘 Major Carmaker to Adopt Google Maps in Major Blow for Navigation Software Companies. “The battle in the navigation space happens not only at the mobile level but also from a pre-loaded software perspective, as companies like Google GOOG 0.00%↑, HERE, and TomTom are fighting to convince carmakers to adopt their solutions.”
📲 Waze Announces Emergency Update As New Feature Invasion Under Way. “Waze has recently confirmed a patch for a widespread glitch causing the app to become laggy when typing in the search box.”
🗺 All the New Google Maps Features That Make Waze Redundant. “The company clearly wants users to start reporting traffic incidents in Google Maps, even if this means eating up Waze's share.”
🤷♂️ So You've Built a Robotaxi, Now Where's Your Infrastructure? “Robotaxi maps will tend to be somewhat more detailed, including private parking lots, pick-up/drop-off spots, road signs and meanings, traffic signal geometry and special rules.”
👌 This Google Maps Rival Just Released a Brilliant Feature Others Must Copy ASAP. “The latest update, now published on the App Store so users can download it right away, allows Apple users to track their cycling and get essential information like distance, burned calories, and HR information whenever they start navigation in Magic Earth.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
🚙 Mercedes-Benz Gets the Ok To Begin Testing Its Level 4 Autonomous Driving Tech in China. “Mercedes-Benz has been certified to begin testing its Level 4 autonomous driving technology in Shanghai, China.”
🚗 Japan Rivals Nissan and Honda Will Share EV Components and AI Research as They Play Catch Up. “Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda say they plan to share components for electric vehicles like batteries and jointly research software for autonomous driving.”
🤔 Hyundai Motor Mulls Connected Car Partnership With Google. “The South Korean auto group is deepening ties with global tech firms like Amazon AMZN 0.00%↑ and Baidu BIDU 0.00%↑ for future mobility technology.”
🙁 Innoviz Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Non-Compliance Letter. “Innoviz Technologies INVZ 0.00%↑ said it has received a notification from Nasdaq, indicating that the company no longer satisfies listing rules, based upon a closing bid price of less than $1 per share for the company's ordinary shares for the prior 30 consecutive business day period.”
Drones:
🛩 China Builds Largest Domestic GPS Network for Drone-Based Powerline Inspection. “China's largest high-precision positioning network for electricity based on the homegrown BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been built in northwest China's Xinjiang.”
🌎 Skyebrowse Releases GPS Tool, Speed Update for Drone 3D Models. “The new GPS Tool allows users to pinpoint exact locations on the 3D models.”
Financial:
💲 Unabiz Claims 40 Percent Growth, $25 Million in Funds to Spur Sigfox 2.0. “Unabiz, owner of the Sigfox technology, has announced $25 million of new capital funds from Japanese pair KDDI and KCCS (Kyocera) as part of early interest in a new series C (“pre-series C”) round, which is due to close in October.”
📈 GPS Navigation Maker Trimble Posts Results Beat, Raises Annual Forecast. “Trimble TRMB 0.00%↑ on Tuesday beat second-quarter results estimates and raised its annual forecast, on strong demand for its subscription plans and software solutions, sending its shares up 2.5 percent.”
💰 Placer.ai Boosts Valuation to $1.5 Billion After Quietly Raising Another $75 Million. “Location data, for better or worse, continues to be a part of the bedrock of how apps are built. Now a startup developing AI market research based on that location data, Placer.ai, has quietly raised $75 million at an expanded valuation of nearly $1.5 billion, TechCrunch has learned.”
📊 TomTom Cancels Repurchased Shares. “TomTom [TOM2] has announced it has canceled 7,366,672 shares. The canceled shares were previously acquired as part of TomTom’s 50 million euro share buyback program, which was completed in June 2024.”
✔ Globalstar Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results.
✔ Powerfleet Announces Preliminary Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal 2025.
✔ Luminar Bolsters Balance Sheet & Reports Second Quarter 2024 Business Update.
Location Industry Briefs
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Loqate Names HERE Technologies Foundational Partner Supporting Address Verification for E-Commerce and Top Businesses
HERE Technologies has been named a foundational partner for Loqate, a global address verification platform. The partnership expansion builds on a 15-year relationship between the two companies.
Loqate uses HERE map data, geocoder and routing algorithms for its Capture and Verify software platforms for the retail, transportation and logistics, financial services and healthcare sectors. Loqate’s software captures and validates more than two billion business and residential addresses worldwide, the company said.
Contact: Reed Findlay, HERE Technologies, (703) 966-6284, reed.findlay@here.com.
Telit Cinterion ME310M1 IoT Module Certified by AT&T
Telit Cinterion has announced that the ME310M1-W1 module received approval for use on the AT&T T 0.00%↑ network. The certification allows IoT specialists and their customers to start using the ME310M1-W1 on AT&T’s LTE-M network, the company said.
The ME310M1-W1 measures 15x18 mm and is the first cellular Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) module based on Sony’s Altair ALT1350 chipset to receive AT&T’s approval, the company said. Use cases include such IoT apps as smart utility meters, asset tracking, industrial sensors, and precision agriculture
Contact: Adir Alon, for Telit Cinterion, 972 (52) 255-2212, adir@davidmalits.com.
Suntech US Rereleases Solar-Powered GPS Tracking Device
Suntech US has rereleased its ST4955LCBW that is tailored to such IoT applications as vehicle and fleet management and asset/trailer tracking.
Key features include a self-sustaining soloar power and back-up battery options. In addition, the solution is expandable with additional tags and sensors for monitoring and management.
Contact: Tim Newberg, Suntech US, tnewberg@suntechus.com, www.suntechus.com.
Exactly Partners With Glympse
Exactly has partnered with Glympse to offer real-time location-sharing for the United Kingdom social housing industry. Location technology customer benefits include reducing tenant no-shows by 25 percent and cut ‘where’s my tradesperson calls by 45 percent.
In addition, the partnership will provide real-time tracking and ETA for maintenance, the company said.
Contact: Glympse, www.corp.glympse.com.
Skylo Technologies Partners With Particle
Skylo Technologies and Particle have partnered to integrate Skylo's satellite connectivity with Particle's IoT platform. The integration allows developers a multi-radio solution for building and deploying IoT products, the company said.
Applications range from precision agriculture and maritime logistics to environmental monitoring and emergency services, the company said.
Contact: Pete Saladino, Skylo Technologies, press@skylo.tech, www.skylo.tech.com.
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CMT Opens Office in Tokyo
Cambridge Mobile Telematics has opened an office in Toyko. CMT, which powers the telematics programs for two of Japan’s top four largest auto insurers, said the office will allow it to deliver localized services and solutions. CMT said Japanese partner Aioi has reported that its telematics program has more than 1.9 million drivers.
Contact: Lisa-Marie Pascuccio, CMT, lpascuccio@cmtelematics.com, www.cmtelematics.com.
3Dtracking and Queclink Wireless Solutions Launch Video Telematics Solution
3Dtracking and Queclink Wireless Solutions have partnered to offer a fleet and video telematics solution. 3Dtracking has integrated Queclink’s CV200 smart dashcam with its cloud-based telematics software platform.
The new vehicle camera system features CAN bus connectivity that delivers advanced video capture, driver monitoring and tracking features, the company said.
Contact: Queclink Wireless Solutions, www.queclink.com.
Intrado and GeoComm Partner to Enhance Safety in Schools and Enterprise Buildings
Intrado Life & Safety has partnered with GeoComm to enhance data available via Intrado’s Spatial Insight product by integrating interior GIS data from critical buildings, including schools, airports, courts, and hospitals, thereby improving emergency response capabilities, the company said. GeoComm’s indoor maps, automotive telematics and supplementary data supplied from mobile devices are available to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for free with Intrado’s Spatial Insight, the company said.
Contact: Andrew Rotheram, (720) 370-6999, arotheram@intrado.com, www.intrado.com.
Freight Technologies Integrates Fr8App with Tecnomotum’s Platform
Freight Technologies FRGT 0.00%↑ has announced an integration with Tecnomotum, one of the largest data transmission companies for haulage in Mexico, the company said. The company will integrate its Fr8App to allow users to access current position, position history, messages, operational status and more.
This integration builds on the expansion earlier this year of Fr8Radar, a module that integrates the Fr8App platform with GPS providers across Mexico and the United States.
Contact: Jason Finkelstein, Freight Technologies, investors@fr8technologies.com, www.fr8technologies.com.
CalAmp Launches Inventory Manager
CalAmp has launched an Inventory Manager feature. This feature is designed to reduce operational friction and streamline the device onboarding process by providing enhanced visibility and oversight of shipped products, the company said. The product allows users to view and track real-time device inventory directly in the admin portal.
Contact: Mark Gaydos, CalAmp, mgaydos@calamp.com, www.calamp.com.
People
Boeing BA 0.00%↑ has named Robert “Kelly” Ortberg to succeed Dave Calhoun as CEO.
ControlTek recently named Tom Meehan CEO.
Pratap Simha has been appointed president, CARIAD India.
Cambridge Mobile Telematics has appointed Tara Casanova Powell, CEO of the Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals, to its Road Safety Advisory Board.
Samsara IOT 0.00%↑ has appointed Alyssa Henry to its board of directors.
Leonardo Cassan has been named IT project manager, space systems at Telespazio.
Jobs
Senior Project Lead GNSS. Fugro.
Senior Sales Manager. HERE Technologies.
Technical Project Manager. HERE Technologies.
Senior Marketing Specialist. Trimble.
Partner Marketing. Trimble.
Product Marketing Manager. Trimble.
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