Autonomous Systems

Self-Driving Taxis Could Be a Setback for Those with Different Needs – Unless Companies Embrace Accessible Design Now

If done right, autonomous vehicles could improve access to transportation for everyone.

  • By John Lunsford, The Conversation

Navy Taps Undersea Consortium to Work on 15 Advanced Tech Problems

Members of the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium will get a chance to work on prototypes for everything from underwater drones to advanced weapons systems.

  • By Aaron Boyd

DARPA Wants to Produce Invisible Headlights

The agency is exploring how thermal energy might one day enable 3D vision.

  • By Brandi Vincent

A Checklist for Congress and the President in a Divided America

There are technologies waiting to be tapped as forces for good.

  • By Gary Shapiro

Electric Cars Will Challenge State Power Grids

An Energy Department study found that increased electrification across all sectors of the economy could boost national consumption by as much as 38% by 2050.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

DARPA Wants Help Developing a ‘Sea Train’ of Unmanned Warships

The Pentagon’s research arm is looking to produce technologies for a new class of long-distance unmanned surface vessels.  

  • By Brandi Vincent

Transportation Challenge Aims to Create Universally Accessible Automated Vehicles

The agency plans to award up to $5 million in prizes.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Robotics Researchers Have a Duty to Prevent Autonomous Weapons

Our ever-growing appetite for intelligent, autonomous machines poses a host of ethical challenges.

  • By Christoffer Heckman, The Conversation

Weapons Makers Unveil A Herd of Robotanks—As the Army Worries about Battlefield Bandwidth

The U.S. Army is determined to field a mid-sized combat robot vehicle, but the prototypes are outstripping the datalinks that would connect them.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

A Clue to the Reason for Women’s Pervasive Car-Safety Problem

Crash-test dummies are typically models of an average man. Women are 73 percent more likely to be injured in a car accident. These things are probably connected.

  • By Sarah Holder, CityLab

Collaboration the Key to Resolving Spectrum Skirmishes

Spectrum is limited but it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game.

  • By Sal D’Itri and Howard Watson

Why Our Government Leaders Must Take the Wheel on Self-Driving Vehicles in 2019—and How They Can Do it

Such vehicles will enable older adults, people with disabilities and people who are housebound to get around with greater ease.

  • By Gary Shapiro

The ‘Driverless Experience’ Looks Awfully Distracting

At CES 2019, carmakers showed off vehicles with perfume-puffing headrests, augmented-reality video displays, and all manner of in-car entertainment.

  • By Laura Bliss, CityLab

Uber Is Resuming Self-Driving Car Tests On U.S. Public Roads

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will see autonomous Ubers again.

  • By Alison Griswold, Quartz

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Finally, the Self-Driving Car

Google’s sister company Waymo built the self-driving car. Now it needs to bring it to life.

  • By Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic

The U.S. Military’s Drone Swarm Strategy Just Passed a Key Test

DARPA-funded drones worked together despite heavy electronic-warfare defenses.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

These Drones Can Search and Rescue Without GPS

Traditional technologies don't always work in remote areas of the wilderness.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

U.S. Military’s Self-Flying Helicopter Program Passes Critical Test

Unmanned Black Hawks are coming. The goal is a major flight demonstration next year.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

San Diego Looks at ‘Geofencing’ to Slow E-Scooters

Virtual perimeters could help improve safety.

  • By Michael Grass

Most Big Cities Are Planning for Autonomous Vehicles

The National League of Cities has seven recommendations for those looking to launch pilots.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Waymo’s Self-Driving Car Crashed Because its Human Driver Fell Asleep at the Wheel

The dozing driver didn’t respond to any of the vehicle’s warnings.

  • By Alison Griswold, Quartz