July’s top news stories

Hyundai Mobis develops autonomous vehicle steering system

South Korea-based Hyundai Mobis developed a customised steering system that is optimised for autonomous vehicles.

This technology comes more than a decade after the production of the electric power steering system in 2006.

Hyundai Mobis chassis division R&D centre head Kim Se-il said: “Autonomous driving will be realised only when the state-of-the-art technologies in safety control such as steering and braking, as well as sensor and positioning technology, come to fruition.

“As Hyundai Mobis is capable of providing various packaged systems necessary for autonomous driving, it will lead the market in the future.”

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Ford creates separate Ford Autonomous Vehicles self-driving company

Ford Motor Company created Ford Autonomous Vehicles as a separate company for its self-driving business.

The new organisation will incorporate all aspects of Ford’s autonomous vehicle (AV) business.

These include the company’s self-driving systems integration, autonomous vehicle research and advanced engineering, AV transportation-as-a-service network development, user experience, business strategy and business development teams.

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Bosch and Daimler to test autonomous vehicle fleet in California, US

Bosch and Daimler agreed to accelerate the development of fully automated and driverless vehicles with the first trial to be carried out in California, US.

During the trial, Bosch and Daimler will offer customers a shuttle service through their Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 4 / 5 automated vehicles on selected routes in a Californian metropolis during the second half of next year.

The project will demonstrate how mobility services such as car sharing, ride-hailing and multi-modal platforms can be intelligently connected to shape the future of mobility.

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Internet in cars used by more than half of consumers

A survey revealed that more than half of consumers use internet in cars, either directly or through a phone, while two-thirds would switch to a different entertainment service if it is readily available in their new vehicle.

The survey was commissioned by Metova, which provides mobile, connected car, connected home and internet-of-things solutions.

In the survey, more than 1,200 of Metova’s US customers expressed their views regarding the technology in their vehicles.

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Work to start on £373m M1 upgrade in Northamptonshire, UK

Highways England has confirmed that the Costain / Galliford Try joint venture will start work on a £373m project to upgrade the M1 in Northamptonshire to a smart motorway next month.

Under the programme, the 23-mile section of M1 between junctions 13 and 16 will be upgraded to an all-lane running smart motorway.

The section of M1 passes through Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire and links to the towns of Bedford, Milton Keynes and Northampton.

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Daimler and Baidu sign MoU on autonomous driving cooperation

German car maker Daimler and China’s Baidu signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance their strategic connected vehicle and autonomous driving cooperation.

Both companies will partner on joint automated driving and connectivity projects and further collaborate through Baidu’s Apollo open platform.

The companies will also work to explore new vehicle connectivity services.

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Iteris secures contracts for traffic signal synchronisation project

Global applied informatics company Iteris won a contract from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in California, US, to provide traffic signal synchronisation project services.

The $3.5m contract will be valid for a period of three years. It will help to improve signal timing and safety across 16 miles and 59 intersections in Orange County, California.

Under the contract, Iteris will be responsible for improvements to the intelligent transportation system (ITS), traffic signal infrastructure, and signal timing along a 16-mile section of a major corridor with 59 signalised intersections.

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Highways England plans to trial increased speed limits on highways

The UK’s Highways England planned to allow speed limits to be increased through motorway roadworks on certain days of the week.

A trial is being planned to find out whether increased speed limits could be safely operated within an area of roadworks without increasing risks to drivers or road workers.

If the test is successful, speed limits could be increased from 50mph to 60mph on Sundays, when there is less roadwork activity.

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Balfour Beatty JV wins £249m Hong Kong tunnel contract

Balfour Beatty secured a HK$2.6bn (£249m) contract for the Hong Kong tunnel project from the region’s Highways Department through its joint venture (JV) Gammon Construction for installation of services and support building construction.

Gammon Construction is a JV between British construction company Balfour Beatty and the Asia-based conglomerate Jardine Matheson.

Under the ‘Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link – Northern Connection Tunnel Buildings, Electrical and Mechanical Works’ contract, Gammon Construction will provide electrical and mechanical (E&M) work for the newly constructed tunnel.

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Sharjah opens airport access road network to ease traffic congestion

Sharjah International Airport Authority (SAA) collaborated with Public Works Department to open a new airport access road network to ease traffic congestion.

A new bridge is part of the 1.2km road network, which offers motorists direct access to the Sharjah International Airport. The project was completed over a period of 535 days.

The 330m suspended bridge was built with an investment of approximately AED85m ($23.2m).