Tag Archives: driverless cars

Feds investigating Tesla for slow reporting of self-driving crash data

Not sure what to make of this. Federal auto safety regulators are investigating why Tesla has repeatedly broken rules requiring it to quickly tell them about crashes involving its self-driving technology, a potentially significant development given the company’s plans to … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The (driverless) trucks at night, are big and bright

I regret nothing. Autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora has expanded its driverless freight operations to include nighttime travel on Texas highways, according to the company’s announcement Wednesday. In late April, the self-driving 18-wheeler service was launched without a safety driver in partnership with Uber … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The (driverless) trucks at night, are big and bright

Waymo to come to Dallas

Arriving next year. Why it matters: North Texas has been an early proving ground for autonomous technology. Autonomous trucking companies are testing their fleets on the region’s highways and Lyft plans to offer self-driving taxis in Dallas next year. The intrigue: Waymo said the high traffic fatality rate in … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Waymo to come to Dallas

Tesla and Musk sued over robotaxi issues

Interesting. A group of Tesla shareholders sued the company and CEO Elon Musk, alleging they weren’t forthcoming about problems with its robotaxi. The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court Monday, says Tesla misled investors, failed to … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla and Musk sued over robotaxi issues

Tesla expands its Austin robotaxi service area

Returning to one of my pet obsessions. Tesla’s robotaxi service began in Austin back in late June, and now the brand has undergone its second expansion that has seen it quadruple its initial service area. This new expansion is almost double … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla expands its Austin robotaxi service area

Would you let Elon monetize your car?

I wouldn’t, but I’m not in scope for this, so that’s an easy call. Tesla owners may soon be able to earn money by letting their vehicles operate as self-driving robotaxis, CEO Elon Musk announced this week. During Tesla’s second-quarter … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From the “Our service area is bigger than yours” department

Actual headline: Waymo responds to Tesla’s dick joke with a bigger Austin robotaxi map. We live in truly stupid times. Earlier this week, Elon Musk posted an image of Tesla’s robotaxi service area in Austin, Texas, that was in the shape of … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A look at the Tesla robotaxi rollout

Because I have an unhealthy obsession with this cursed topic, here’s a brief roundup of news stories about how the first day of Tesla’s long-expected robotaxi rollout in Austin went. First, you should know that only pro-Tesla influencers were invited … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tesla launches its robotaxi service in Austin

Not quite as they wanted, but it is going. After driverless Tesla Model Ys were spotted traversing Austin, Texas streets on Sunday morning, CEO Elon Musk posted on his social platform X that Tesla’s “robotaxi launch” would start this afternoon … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla launches its robotaxi service in Austin

A closer look at Waymo and Tesla

Slate’s Henry Grabar takes a closer look at how the two main robotaxi ventures differ in approach and likely effect. Waymo is now clocking more than 250,000 paid rides a week, on track to double last year’s total. It currently … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The stakes of the Tesla robotaxi debut in Austin sure are higher now

Good luck, Elmo. You’re gonna need it. Tesla’s long-awaited entry into the robotaxi market — expected later this month — is coming to Austin, Texas, which has emerged as a key battleground for self-driving technology. CEO Elon Musk wrote in … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The stakes of the Tesla robotaxi debut in Austin sure are higher now

Waymo “road trip” coming

Company’s coming. Houstonians have the opportunity to see driverless vehicles in action. Google’s autonomous-driver sister company, Waymo, announced Tuesday that it’s initiating road trips this summer for testing and exploration in Houston, Orlando and San Antonio. The road trip consists … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Waymo “road trip” coming

What’s next for Aurora’s driverless trucks

Expansion coming soon. Autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora Innovation plans to expand on the success of its first driverless commercial launch and add night driving to its operations. Aurora said Thursday that in the second half of 2025, it will … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s next for Aurora’s driverless trucks

Tesla robotaxis to arrive in Austin in June

Don’t use them, I say. Make Elon cry. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company will have robotaxis on the streets of Austin, Texas, by the end of June. In an interview with CNBC’s David Faber on Tuesday at … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla robotaxis to arrive in Austin in June

That Waymo is watching you

Huh. The Los Angeles Police Department obtained video footage from a Waymo driverless car as part of its investigation into a hit-and-run in which a separate, human-driven car hit a pedestrian. The LAPD published the footage, which has a note … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on That Waymo is watching you

Driverless taxis coming to Arlington

Second city in Texas to get them. Startup May Mobility plans to deploy its autonomous vehicles on the Uber platform by the end of 2025, starting in Arlington, Texas, as part of a multi-year partnership. The tie-up with Uber offers … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Waymo brings its self-driving tech to Toyota

I just like to keep an eye on the driverless car scene. Alphabet-owned Waymo and Toyota on Tuesday announced a preliminary partnership to explore bringing robotaxi tech to personally-owned vehicles. “The companies will explore how to leverage Waymo’s autonomous technology … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Waymo brings its self-driving tech to Toyota

More on the Aurora rollout

From Axios. Drivers along a 200-mile stretch of I-45 between Dallas and Houston should get ready for something new: The semi-truck in the next lane might not have anyone in the driver’s seat. […] What they’re saying: “Everybody is looking at … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the Aurora rollout

Microtransit comes to the Heights

Whoopie. Houston transit officials on Monday said on-demand microtransit would expand to provide rides in the Heights. Metro, with the city of Houston and Evolve Houston, expanded the Community Connector service, which has been serving downtown Houston, Second Ward and … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fully autonomous trucks set to hit the road

For realsies. Autonomous freight trucks are slated to hit the Dallas highways this month. The self-driving heavy-duty semi-trucks running on technology formulated by Aurora, a Pittsburgh-based self-driving vehicle tech company, will roll back and forth along the Interstate 45 corridor connecting Dallas … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Waymo robotaxis are now officially available in Austin

If that’s the sort of thing you’re into. Uber will shift into a new gear in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday when its ride-hailing service will begin dispatching self-driving cars to pick up passengers. The autonomous option is being provided through … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Waymo robotaxis are now officially available in Austin

Lyft gets into the robotaxi business

Of course they are. Ride-hail giant Lyft plans to bring fully autonomous robotaxis, powered by Mobileye, to its app “as soon as 2026” in Dallas, with more markets to follow, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The news comes a day before … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyft gets into the robotaxi business

Uber teams up with Waymo in Austin

Okay. Uber customers in Austin may notice a new offer when they open the app and hail a ride: an invitation to signal their interest in a Waymo robotaxi. For now, this doesn’t translate into a Waymo picking them up. … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Tesla’s push for robotaxi service in Austin

Always consider the source. Tesla Inc. fleshed out plans to launch a robotaxi business Elon Musk is counting on to help usher in next phase of growth, after the company posted quarterly earnings that missed estimates. The electric-car maker expects … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on Tesla’s push for robotaxi service in Austin

Another flying taxi overview

As I’ve said before, every time I read a story about flying taxis, I learn something new. Flying taxis have made enough regulatory inroads with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to result in the recent creation of a new aircraft … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another flying taxi overview

Tesla seeks permit for robotaxi service in Austin

Who wants this? Tesla is in early talks with the authorities in the city of Austin, Texas, about its autonomous vehicle technology, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. A Tesla employee has been in touch with the city’s autonomous vehicle task … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tesla seeks permit for robotaxi service in Austin

RIP, Cruise robotaxis

Didn’t see that coming. General Motors said Tuesday it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead, the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems for personal vehicles … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on RIP, Cruise robotaxis

Look for driverless cars to get fast-tracked

Something to keep an eye on. President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team plans to create a federal framework for fully self-driving vehicles, Bloomberg reported citing sources. Should new regulations permit vehicles without human controls, it could provide a significant benefit to … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Look for driverless cars to get fast-tracked

A brief HCC update

There’s not a lot of non-election news happening right now, but there was this. Houston Community College officials are working to integrate virtual reality and more digital advances into every classroom and program by next fall, one of several goals … Continue reading

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cruise partners with the Houston Food Bank

Of interest. The Houston Food Bank and autonomous vehicle company Cruise launched a program to deliver produce and non-perishable items to expecting mothers in the city. The deliveries are a part of the Houston Food Bank’s Food Rx program, through … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Watch out for Waymo

We’ve talked a lot about Cruise’s so far ill-fated attempt to do robotaxi service, mostly because it was briefly available in Houston (and may be again soon), but the most successful purveyor of such services out there has been Waymo. … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Watch out for Waymo

Cruise returns to Houston

They’re baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack… Houston, we missed you! Today we’re resuming driving in Houston where we’ll build on the knowledge collected last year. We’ll start with human driven vehicles and move to supervised autonomous driving with a safety driver behind the wheel … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cruise returns to Houston

A brief overview of flying taxis

This was written by the executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, and it answers at least one of my questions about our flying taxi future. In the near term, once eVTOLs are certified to fly … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Driverless snowplows

I realize this is unlikely to be of much interest in our part of the world, but as a devoted purveyor of autonomous vehicle news I felt compelled to share this with you. Jordan Smith was in Las Vegas looking … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Driverless snowplows