Autonomous

Lyft – a US ride-sharing company in fierce competition with Uber – has sold its large autonomous vehicle development program to Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer’s research division Woven Planet Holdings reportedly paid US$550 million (AU$710,000) for the program, with an initial US$200 million (AU$260,000) investment preceding a further US$350 million (AU$450,000) over the next five years.

Ford will invest US$22 billion (AU$28 billion) in electric vehicle development by 2025, the US manufacturer has announced. In a statement following the release of the brand's fourth-quarter 2020 earnings report, it was also confirmed that a further US$7 billion (AU$9.2 billion) would be spent on expanding autonomous vehicle technologies.

UPDATE: A similar Tesla filing from July 2020 suggests the US-based electric vehicle manufacturer is looking to employ radar technology inside its cabins to "reduce the risk of pediatric vehicular heatstroke, protect vehicle occupants from injury through advanced airbag deployment and seatbelt reminders, and enhance theft prevention systems."

An automated valet car park system is being developed by Ford and Bosch in the US. When the Ford Escape test vehicle arrives in a designated area of the car park, the driver can then use a smartphone app to initiate automated parking. The test vehicle communicates with integrated Bosch sensors to locate empty spaces within the facility. The same sensors can identify and avoid pedestrians and other hazards, and will autonomously park the car.

An innovative active suspension system – capable of adjusting wheel alignment while driving – has been developed by Victorian-based company Doftek. The active wheel alignment system (AWAS) is designed to be retrofitted to a car's existing suspension. The vehicle's standard suspension mounts and tie rods are replaced with electromechanical components that, via a control unit, can adjust the angle of the wheels (camber, toe-in, and caster) to suit road conditions and driver preferences.