Opening
Lane: I was just reading that the sensors on that new shuttle felt incredibly smooth on the turns.
Otto: It's hard to tell if it's the software or just a very gentle driver, Lane.
Lane: Well, I'm Lane, and this is Otto. Welcome to Driverless Daily.
S.F. Tesla driver who fatally struck man crossing highway said car was in full-self-driving mode
Reported by San Francisco Chronicle
Lane: Our top story, a Tesla driver in San Francisco admitted to stopping early and fatally striking a man crossing a highway, claiming the car was in full-self-driving mode, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lane: This story is also being covered by The Verge, the SelfDrivingCars subreddit, and the Hacker News thread.
Otto: That is a heavy reminder of why the distinction between driver assistance and full autonomy is so vital for investigators.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Waabi launch first driverless lane in Texas
Reported by Trucking Dive
Otto: Up next, Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Waabi have launched the first driverless lane in Texas, according to Trucking Dive.
Lane: A dedicated space for testing could really speed up the deployment of freight automation.
Waymo to launch its robotaxi service in Spain
Reported by WardsAuto
Lane: Now, to the international stage, Waymo is set to launch its robotaxi service in Spain, according to WardsAuto.
Otto: The footprint for these services is expanding faster than most people realize.
Tesla says it will start selling Cybercabs by end of year
Reported by TechCrunch
Otto: This just in, Tesla says it will start selling Cybercabs by the end of the year, according to TechCrunch. This is also being reported by Reuters and Electrek.
Otto: The Cybercab is an autonomous two-seater without a steering wheel or traditional controls, and Tesla plans to deliver them as a robotaxi service, starting with small-scale deployments. However, federal regulators are currently investigating whether the vehicle meets vehicle safety standards.
Lane: The lack of a steering wheel certainly raises the stakes for those safety investigations.
Lucid’s 25,000 Bolt robotaxis will run on Nvidia’s self-driving software
Reported by Electrek
Lane: Our next story, Lucid's 25,000 Bolt robotaxis will run on Nvidia's self-driving software, as reported by Electrek. the Hacker News thread is on this story too.
Otto: That is a massive fleet relying on a single software stack.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Grants a Crucial Regulatory Exemption for Autonomous Trucks
Reported by Sidley Austin
Otto: Up next, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, has granted a crucial regulatory exemption for autonomous trucks, according to Sidley Austin. The exemption allows manufacturers to test and deploy self-driving vehicles in specific conditions.
Lane: The regulators certainly will be watching those specific conditions very closely.
Rivian buys world model startup to accelerate self-driving ambitions
Reported by TechCrunch
Lane: Finally, Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a U.K. startup that uses AI to create 3D worlds from images and videos, according to TechCrunch.
Lane: Third Dimension, which was founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski and raised 7 million dollars in seed funding, has technology originally built for video game development. Rivian will absorb the 15-person team into its autonomy and AI team to help simulate real-world driving conditions.
Otto: Using gaming technology to validate real-world safety is a clever move.
Sign-off
Lane: That's all for our broadcast today.
Otto: We'll see you tomorrow.