Important Innovations

Mercedes-Benz Autonomous Taxi Fleet Deployed in San Jose, CA Source:  Mercedes Benz - Autonomous Taxiing in Style Level 4 Autonomous Driving Daimler's Mercedes-Benz and the German tech giant Bosch have launched a self-driving car project in San Jose, CA. They're using a fleet of 30 autonomous MB S-class vehicles as a hailing taxi service.  You might call it autonomous taxiing in luxury style.  The program just got underway and initially only a select group of users can hail the self-driving vehicles.  These vehicles are capable of Level 4 driving.  Level 4 is fully automated navigation with little to no human input or oversight needed.  Daimler is testing the vehicles for reliability and safety. Separately, Bosch just announced a breakthrough, less expensive lidar sensor that could accelerate widespread use of autonomous cars. (News details in my previous blog). Mercedes Car2Go To summon a ride in San Jose, the user connects to Daimler's Car2Go car-sharing servi

German Tech Giant Bosch's Lidar Sensor Source:  Bosch Putting Autonomous Cars in the Fast Lane German tech giant Bosch has developed a sensor that enables autonomous cars to see a 3-dimensional view of the road as part of the autonomous system.  The company adds the lidar sensors are not expensive.  This technology breakthrough could accelerate the development and widespread use of self-driving cars.  Bosch believes this sensor could make mainstream cars self-driving a lot sooner than predicted. Sensor Sees Short & Long Distances, Providing 3D View of Highway Bosch says it will launch the lower cost lidar sensors and showcase the breakthrough technology at the annual CES in Las Vegas next week.  The sensors "see" both short and long range distances on the highway and work in tandem with camera and radar technologies.  Lidar uses light to generate a 3D view of the road.  Bosch is not providing timing on the actual launch date other than to say t

Keyless Car System from Bosch Innovative Technology on the Move You know the feeling - you can't find your keys or you can't find your car in a huge garage after a long meeting.  This is innovative technology from Bosch that addresses both and a lot more. It's Bosch's keyless car system that is new and different through a smart phone app.  For details go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane's blog, Important Innovations Collection: Keyless Cars at Your Door : New Bosch Keyless Car System Image Source:  Bosch Smart Phone App Does the Trick Bosch is an innovation company.  It has just unvei...