Digital Trends: Waymo’s Cute Autonomous ‘Pod’ Cars Drive Into Retirement . “Waymo, the company spun out from Google’s self-driving unit that continue its work, said on Monday its fleet of Fireflies, as the car is affectionately known, will be retired. Instead, the team will focus on integrating its autonomous technology into larger vehicles such as its new self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivan.”
cars
BetaNews: Unsecured online database exposes details of millions of cars and their owners
BetaNews: Unsecured online database exposes details of millions of cars and their owners. “As well as data such as VIN and details of payment plans, the database also includes detailed information about owners, such as name, address, phone numbers and occupation. It has been left exposed online for over four months, but it’s not clear who the owner is — or how to address the security risk it poses.”
TechCrunch: Yandex’s on-demand taxi service debuts its self-driving car project
TechCrunch: Yandex’s on-demand taxi service debuts its self-driving car project. “Russia search and internet technology giant Yandex is showing off the self-driving vehicle prototype developed by its Yandex.Taxi on-demand ride service for the first time, and the video above is the first footage of the car in action. The prototype is meant to help Yandex test its software, which the company thinks it’s uniquely well-positioned to develop for this emerging space.”
National Institute for Justice: Improving a Database to Help Identify a Vehicle by Using Paint Fragments
National Institute for Justice: Improving a Database to Help Identify a Vehicle by Using Paint Fragments. “For years, investigators have relied on the Paint Data Query database, developed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to identify the make of a vehicle by matching the physical attributes, chemical composition, and infrared spectrum of the paint, primers, and clear coating layers. The Paint Data Query database contains more than 21,000 automotive paint samples that correspond to more than 84,000 individual paint layers used on most domestic and foreign vehicles sold in North America.”
Washington Post: Lyft and Waymo just teamed up on self-driving cars, taking aim at a common enemy
Washington Post: Lyft and Waymo just teamed up on self-driving cars, taking aim at a common enemy. “Two key players in Silicon Valley’s battle to define the future of transportation are teaming up, taking aim at a common enemy. Waymo, the self-driving division of Google’s parent company Alphabet, and ride-hailing company Lyft are partnering to test driverless car technology, the companies confirmed Sunday.”
The Next Web: Larry Page’s new startup promises to bring flying cars by the end of 2017
The Next Web: Larry Page’s new startup promises to bring flying cars by the end of 2017. “The future of flying cars has never looked so real. Silicon Valley startup Kitty Hawk, backed by Alphabet CEO and Google co-founder Larry Page, has finally launched today – and it promises its electric flying cars will be available to the masses by the end of the year.” How do you do this stuff and run one of the largest companies in the world at the same time? Must need a lot less sleep than I do.
Marketwired: Baidu Announces Project Apollo, Opening Up its Autonomous Driving Platform (PRESS RELEASE)
Marketwired: Baidu Announces Project Apollo, Opening Up its Autonomous Driving Platform (PRESS RELEASE). “Baidu has today announced a new project named ‘Apollo’ which will provide an open, complete and reliable software platform for its partners in the automotive and autonomous driving industry to develop their own autonomous driving systems with reference vehicles and hardware platform.”
