ZF, an automotive supplier, will be partnering with Beep, an autonomous shuttle operator to deliver shuttles in the US, according to TechCrunch.
Beep will implement ZF's next-gen Level 4 autonomous shuttle. Level 4 allows the vehicle to drive itself without the need for humans in most situations within the operation design domain of the car. On the other hand, ZF's new shuttle is designed for urban environments and mixed traffic.
It can be recalled that the previous shuttle model of ZF can only drive in designated lanes, which are deployed via their subsidiary 2getthere. So far, the previous shuttle model has clocked a total of 62 million autonomously driven kilometers in real traffic with over 14 million passengers.
New Technologies Will Be Introduced
Now, the new shuttle can implement other new technology, such as the ZF ProConnect connectivity platform. The platform allows communications with surrounding infrastructure and the cloud. It will also have the ZF ProAI supercomputer, which is a device that can support Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), along with infotainment and chassis functions.
The Pro AI supercomputer will combine several Systems-on-a-Chip (SoC) from different suppliers into one hardware unit. Hence, this will take up less space and will be more efficient.
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Autonomy in Public Transportation
The ZF shuttle can carry 22 passengers with 15 seated. In addition, the shuttle will be compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will include an automatic ramp and wheelchair restraints.
With the agreement between ZF and Beep, thousands of shuttles will be deployed in the new few years. The market entry for the next-gen shuttle will be launched in 2025 and a ramp production will take place in mid-2026.
There are no clear details yet on the specific places where the shuttles will be deployed. Beep is currently working out the operation scenerio.
Most of their deployments are along specific routes within closed campuses. Beep also recently partnered with Peachtree Corners, GA, to test the shuttles on a dedicated path in the technology park.
With the help of ZF, the shuttles can be deployed in more widely areas and can be utilized by a larger number of customers. It would be interesting to observe the vehicle autonomy's development in the coming months.
The Present Scenario
The partnership between the two firms is a step towards ZF's goal to be a key player in the global automated mobility market. The company aims to make sure that they are competitive, to meet the accelerating demand for a higher level of safety as well as to build a wide partner ecosystem.
Already, ZF has made some progress in the development of next-gen technology for driverless mobility. The company has already put up a number of autonomous driving projects in the US and other markets. Thus, they have strong technological foundations. Moreover, they have a strong portfolio of technologies as well as a growing portfolio of patents.
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