When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard. Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences. At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000. Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040. Put another way, that’s roughly equal to: - 175 Teslas - 107 Amazons - 140 Metas - 84 Googles - 65 Microsofts - And 55 Nvidias And here’s the wild part — this $250 trillion wave isn’t tied to one company, but to an entire ecosystem of AI innovators set to reshape the global economy. It’s a leap so massive, it could reshape how businesses, governments, and consumers operate worldwide. Even if that $250 trillion figure sounds ambitious, major firms like PwC and McKinsey still see AI unlocking multi-trillion-dollar potential. How could anything be worth that much? The answer lies in a breakthrough so powerful it’s redefining how humanity works, learns, and creates. And this breakthrough has already set off a frenzy among hedge funds and Wall Street’s top investors. What most investors don’t realize is that one under-owned company holds the key to this $250 trillion revolution. In fact, Verge argues this company’s supercheap AI technology should concern rivals. Before I reveal the details, let’s talk about how some of the richest people on the planet are positioning themselves. - Bill Gates sees artificial intelligence as the “biggest technological advance in my lifetime,” more transformative than the internet or personal computer, capable of improving healthcare, education,
Jul 1, 2026 · via insidermonkey.com
Mars Auto, a South Korean startup building autonomous-driving software for heavy trucks, says it will release what it calls Tesla-comparable self-driving software this year and aims to automate freight all the way from Korea to the United States. At a media day in Seoul, CEO Park Il-su said the company will commercialize driverless trucks by 2028 using an end-to-end (E2E), camera-based AI system he likened to Tesla's, according to Seoul Economic Daily — processing visual data through cameras and letting AI make decisions, rather than relying on LiDAR and high-definition maps. Founded in 2017 by KAIST alumni, Mars Auto has real operations to point to, though its most eye-catching framing is its own. Why Cameras, and Why Trucks The company's bet rests on two technical arguments. The first is architectural. Most autonomous systems pair LiDAR — laser sensors that build a precise 3D picture — with high-definition maps, and can operate only on routes prepared in advance. Mars Auto instead uses a single neural network that takes raw video from the truck's cameras and directly outputs perception, judgment, and control, with no pre-built map, which it says lets the truck drive roads it has never seen, the way a human does. Mars Auto argues the camera approach wins on both capability and cost: where rivals' sensor setups can run around 350 million won ($229,000) per vehicle, it says its own runs about 10 million won ($6,500). The trade-off, and the reason this approach is debated, is that cameras alone can struggle in fog, glare, or darkness where LiDAR's active sensing still works — the same camera-only philosophy Tesla uses is currently the subject of a U.S. federal safety investigation. The second argument is about problem choice. Because roughly 98% of a truck's route is highway — a far more uniform
Jul 1, 2026 · via techtimes.com
For three decades, autonomous construction machinery lived mostly in mining pits and demonstration yards — a technology perpetually described as “coming soon.” That changed decisively in 2026. At CES in January and CONEXPO-CON/AGG in March, the world’s largest equipment makers stopped teasing driverless machines and started shipping them. Caterpillar unveiled a five-machine autonomous construction lineup. John Deere put its first autonomous articulated dump truck to work in a quarry setting. Doosan Bobcat rolled out a modular, cab-optional concept loader. And a fast-growing category of specialist robotics firms began putting machines that tie rebar and scan job sites overnight to work on live projects. The numbers back up the shift. Market researchers differ on exact figures, but every major estimate points the same direction: the global autonomous construction equipment market was worth roughly $16.6 billion in 2025 and is on track to reach approximately $18.2 billion in 2026, according to The Business Research Company, with most forecasters projecting compound annual growth in the high single digits to low double digits through the early 2030s. MARKET SNAPSHOT: $18.16bn in 2026, rising to $25.86bn by 2030 (9.1–9.2% CAGR) $17.71bn in 2026, rising to $35.22bn by 2034 (9.0% CAGR) $15.11bn in 2025, rising to $30.09bn by 2033 (8.99% CAGR) | Source | 2026 Market Size (est.) | Forecast | CAGR | | The Business Research Company | $18.16 billion | $25.86 billion by 2030 | 9.1–9.2% | | Fortune Business Insights | $17.71 billion | $35.22 billion by 2034 | 9.0% | | SkyQuest | $15.11 billion (2025) | $30.09 billion by 2033 | 8.99% | | MarketsandMarkets | n/a (2024 base: $4.40bn) | $9.77 billion by 2030 | 14.2% | | MarketGenics | n/a (2025 base: $13.2bn) | $36.8 billion by 2035 | 10.8% | For contractors, OEMs and infrastructure planners watching from
Jul 1, 2026 · via cceonlinenews.com
ARCHION Group companies Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation will cooperate in a Japanese government program aimed at accelerating the use of Level 4 autonomous trucks for freight transport on expressways. The two commercial vehicle manufacturers will support Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Autonomous Truck Implementation Support Project, which is focused on the early social implementation of freight movement using Level 4 autonomous trucks on highways. Under the program, Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso will participate as heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers supporting the safety foundation needed for autonomous truck deployment. Both companies will cooperate with the Expressway Autonomous Truck Transport Operations Council, while Hino will also cooperate with the L4 Logistics Autonomous Driving Trailer Promotion Council and the Toyota Tsusho Consortium. The announcement builds on previous autonomous truck work by Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso. From fiscal year 2021 through fiscal year 2025, both companies participated in Theme 3 of the Road to the L4 project, an initiative promoted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The project focused on the practical application of high-performance trucks on expressways and the broader social implementation of Level 4 autonomous trucks. The companies also supported a separate 2025 effort under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry related to the development of digital lifelines, including autonomous driving service support roads. As part of that work, Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso helped develop a business proposal for trunk-route joint transport using autonomous-driving tractors. According to ARCHION, the work will be part of a broader effort to combine the commercial vehicle development, production and sales foundations of Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso following their management integration. The group said it intends to advance joint development across connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicle technologies, including
Jul 1, 2026 · via act-news.com
A New Era in Autonomous Hauling: Humble Robotics Unveils Driverless Electric Truck Interest in autonomous vehicles in the global technology market is reminiscent of the hype of 2016. Experienced industry experts and major investors are back in the spotlight, this time focusing on the full automation of freight logistics. Specifically, the startup Humble Robotics has announced its new project aimed at revolutionizing the trucking industry. This is reported by Techcrunch.com reports says. In an interview with TechCrunch, company founder and CEO Eyal Cohen emphasized that a new surge in autonomous technology has begun. Humble Robotics announced that it has ended its stealth mode in April, raised $24 million in investment, and is developing a fully autonomous, cab-less electric hauling vehicle. Eyal Cohen is a figure with vast experience in this field. He previously worked on the Otto project, which was acquired by Uber, and later operated at Pronto alongside Anthony Levandowski. He notes that the flow of capital and the battle for talented engineers are becoming as intense as they were several years ago, but the technologies are now much more mature. The future of cab-less trucks and logistics The uniqueness of the Humble Robotics project is that their electric trucks have no traditional driver's seat or control cab. This approach allows for reducing the vehicle's weight, improving aerodynamics, and increasing cargo volume. For countries with high transit potential like Uzbekistan, such technologies could increase road safety and significantly reduce transport costs in the future.According to experts, autonomous trucks eliminate fatigue and human error associated with long-distance hauling. According to Eyal Cohen, the experience accumulated in electrification, solar energy, and robotics over the last 15 years is now merging into a single ecosystem. This is turning autonomous vehicles from mere laboratory projects into real business solutions. Currently, companies like Humble
Jul 1, 2026 · via zamin.uz
Humble Robotics raises $24M to build driverless electric truck tractor A new wave of AV funding is gathering momentum as experienced founders return to the sector. The stakes for freight autonomy are rising. As reported by Techcrunch The autonomous vehicle sector is once again reminiscent of the 2016 peak: investors are picking up momentum, and those who rode out that wave are now helping shape the next phase of development. Money is returning, and it is the people who were in the thick of it who are shaping the future. Among them is Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics. He has walked the path from Otto to Pronto: when Uber came with an offer, and later he joined the company together with Anthony Levandowski. After more than two decades in the world of advanced technologies, his new company emerged from stealth in April with $24 million in funding to develop a fully autonomous, cabless electric tractor for freight trucks. Cohen took part in a conversation with Kirsten Korosec on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, where they discussed AV déjà vu and the lessons learned from 15 years building startups in electrification, solar energy, and robotics. Hallmark signals of a new AV hype cycle The idea behind Humble Robotics is to make driverless freight transportation safer and more efficient through full autonomy and electric propulsion oriented toward commercial freight. The role of Cohen and his team is seen as evidence that the previous talent pool and investments are returning: now new funding and interest from players who were previously in the swirl of the auto manufacturing and robotics markets are emerging. The Equity podcast continues to serve as a platform for discussing how the experience of the past years can influence the development of autonomous freight systems, alongside current challenges and
Jul 1, 2026 · via mezha.net
Aurora Innovation ( (AUR) ) is experiencing volatility. Read on for a possible explanation for the stockâs unusual movement. End of Quarter Sale - 70% Off - Unlock powerful investing tools and data-driven insights with TipRanks Premium for more confident investment decisions. - Discover top stock picks and new investment opportunities through TipRanks' Smart Investor Newsletter. Aurora Innovation shares are jumping as investors cheer the companyâs new partnership with McLane Company, which aims to bring autonomous trucks into the U.S. restaurant supply chain. The move is seen as a concrete step toward commercial deployment, reinforced by an independent safety review that backed the Aurora Driverâs performance and by reports of big institutions building positions. The stockâs rally is driven less by broad market forces and more by confidence that Aurora is closer to real-world revenue and enjoys a strong safety reputation, key for regulators and customers. While no specific price targets were mentioned, the combination of commercialization progress and validation from partners and safety assessors is giving traders fresh reasons to buy. Looking ahead, Auroraâs sizable cash reserves and light debt load give it financial breathing room to keep funding research, product launches and factory buildouts without constantly rushing back to markets for cash. That balance sheet cushion makes it easier for long-term investors to stay patient while the company works to scale its self-driving truck business. However, Aurora is still burning a lot of cash and generating very little revenue, which means the business remains highly dependent on future growth actually materializing. If commercialization takes longer than expected, or if key manufacturing partners and timelines slip, the company could face more dilution, a longer path to profitability and renewed questions about its ability to stand on its own. More about Aurora Innovation YTD Price Performance: 77.60% Average Trading Volume:
Jul 1, 2026 · via tipranks.com
EACON’s Hong Kong flotation is the clearest signal yet that China’s physical AI is scaling into global capital markets. The autonomous mining specialist launched a global H-share offering of 26.13 million shares, guiding for HK$2.12 billion to HK$2.30 billion in gross proceeds, and is set to become the world’s first listed autonomous mining solutions provider. With 2,580 active autonomous mining trucks and a 55.5 percent share of China’s AHS market by vehicle count in 2025, EACON brings scale, data, and operating proof rarely seen in industrial autonomy. That is exactly what global investors have been waiting for: a high-velocity, high-barrier China platform at the intersection of AI, heavy equipment, and hard-asset productivity. The cornerstone roster tells the story. Zijin Mining and XCMG are in, alongside Fidelity International, JP Morgan Asset Management, Barings, Indus Funds, Jain Global, Regal, GF Funds, CDH, and Seven Grand. Cornerstones have taken roughly half the deal, the regulatory cap. Industrial validation plus blue-chip capital is a decisive combination for an IPO debutant. It helps that EACON’s operating metrics have inflected: annual haulage mileage jumped from 4.6 million to 61.8 million kilometers; annual material volume rose from 30.6 million to 308 million cubic meters; and the fleet has maintained a six-year safety record. The company’s full-stack L4 system integrates software, sensors, and control for heavy-duty trucks across coal, metal, and non-metal mines. That embedded capability—hard to copy without the data flywheel—is the moat. This float is also a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s role as the go-to venue for capitalizing China’s industrial AI. International long-only funds and resource specialists are leaning in. Regal’s participation is notable as its first cornerstone commitment in a Hong Kong IPO in more than two decades, signaling confidence in an expansion vector into Australia’s mining belt. The Hong Kong market gives
Jul 1, 2026 · via nai500.com
MasAuto, a startup specializing in autonomous driving for large trucks, has announced its vision to deliver South Korean export goods to the United States using fully unmanned technology. Utilizing end-to-end (E2E) AI-based trailer autonomous driving technology, the company aims to achieve 100% unmanned delivery from Busan Port in South Korea to West Point in the U.S., via Long Beach Port, while also addressing logistics efficiency through 'empty transport.' The company reports a surge in orders from clients in South Korea and the U.S., projecting revenues of 6.3 billion won this year and 14.9 billion won by 2027. During a press briefing on July 1 in Gangnam, Seoul, CEO Park Il-soo stated, "The biggest issue with existing autonomous driving systems is the high initial investment cost and the difficulty of technological scalability. To address this, MasAuto's 'Mas Pilot' offers autonomous driving technology that can be deployed immediately at a cost that is one-twentieth of traditional methods, providing limitless scalability." Founded in 2017 by Park, a KAIST graduate, MasAuto has developed a camera-based E2E AI similar to Tesla's, with the goal of achieving complete unmanned freight transport by 2028. The flagship product, 'Mas Pilot,' is already installed in 14 domestic clients' fleets, operating autonomously on 97% of their routes. As of the first half of this year, the technology has accumulated 2.5 million kilometers of autonomous driving, successfully gathering 20 million kilometers of real-world driving data essential for enhancing E2E AI. The company has also recorded autonomous freight transport over distances exceeding 7,000 kilometers in the U.S. At the briefing, MasAuto announced plans to establish a 'self-driving logistics network' that will connect export goods to Busan Port, marking the first introduction of trailer autonomous driving in South Korea. The company also unveiled its next-generation Level 4 autonomous driving AI model, 'MarsNet 3,'
Jul 1, 2026 · via m.ajupress.com
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Jul 1, 2026 · via youtube.com
PepsiCo announced a multi-year strategic partnership with technology company Gatik to integrate driverless autonomous trucks into its North American food and beverage supply chain. The initiative represents the largest commercial deployment of autonomous freight transportation—driverless trucks—ever carried out. READ ALSO. Long before Tesla, this brand launched an electric car in 1972 that few remember The agreement will expand Gatik’s existing operations for PepsiCo in Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas, where its autonomous vehicles already transport goods daily along high-frequency regional routes. The company explained that the strategy is part of its goal to build a more innovative, resilient, and responsive logistics network capable of adapting more quickly to market demand. How will PepsiCo’s autonomous trucks operate? The vehicles developed by Gatik are designed to perform end-to-end deliveries on both highways and urban roads. Their artificial intelligence system can dynamically reorganize routes, add new delivery points, or modify routes as operational needs change across distribution centers. According to PepsiCo, this flexibility will improve on-time deliveries, increase logistics capacity, and reduce distribution variability without requiring significant changes to existing infrastructure. The company emphasized that these regional routes are essential for maintaining the steady flow of products between manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers. PepsiCo aims to build a more efficient supply chain Jim Farrell, PepsiCo’s Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, said the company requires logistics infrastructure that is prepared for future challenges. “Serving our broad customer network requires a supply chain that is safe, reliable, and future-ready. Gatik already operates within our networks and brings the autonomous transportation technology, commercial expertise, and scale we need to strengthen service, expand capacity, and move products more consistently for our customers,” he said. PepsiCo products are consumed more than one billion times every day across more than 200 countries and territories, making its logistics network
Jun 30, 2026 · via merca20.com
Quarterhill to acquire Conduent tolling business in $70 million deal Toronto-based Quarterhill has agreed to acquire Conduent’s tolling business in a transaction the company says will nearly triple its tolling revenue and create one of the industry’s largest providers of intelligent transportation systems. The deal includes $70 million in cash, subject to adjustments, plus Quarterhill shares representing 7% of the company’s outstanding stock. Quarterhill said it expects to finance the cash portion through debt. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, pending regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Quarterhill said the acquisition will create a combined tolling platform with about $2 billion in backlog, providing long-term revenue visibility. On a pro forma basis, the combined business would generate more than $400 million in annual revenue. “This is a transformational transaction for Quarterhill, and one the Board enthusiastically supports,” said Rusty Lewis, chairman of Quarterhill’s board of directors. “Conduent’s tolling solutions business brings scale, long-term agency relationships, proven technology capabilities and deep tolling expertise in a core market.” Conduent’s tolling business provides electronic toll collection, open-road and all-electronic tolling systems, automated license plate recognition, vehicle detection and classification, payment processing, customer service, invoicing and back-office operations for transportation agencies primarily in the U.S. and the U.K. Quarterhill CEO Chuck Myers said the acquisition advances the company’s strategy of building a larger and more profitable intelligent transportation systems platform. “With greater scale, enhanced backlog visibility and meaningful adjusted EBITDA contribution after anticipated day-one synergies, we believe Quarterhill will have a stronger foundation for long-term growth,” Myers said. While the acquisition is focused on tolling, Quarterhill also has a significant presence in the commercial vehicle sector through its intelligent transportation businesses, which provide weigh station screening, commercial vehicle inspection technologies and traffic management systems used by transportation agencies across North
Jun 30, 2026 · via trucknews.com
- Autonomous trucking expansion is entering a new phase as California opens a staged permitting path for heavy-duty AV testing and deployment. - Kodiak AI’s growth shows the technology is moving beyond pilots, with freight lanes, industrial use cases, SensorPods, Bosch hardware integration, and advanced safety validation shaping the next commercial stage. - Tank fleets should read the fine print: California’s current rules exclude bulk-liquid commercial motor vehicles requiring a tank endorsement, making tank autonomy a later and more complex frontier. Autonomous Trucking Expansion: California Rules, Kodiak Growth, and the Technology Integration Behind the Next Freight Phase California has opened a new door for autonomous trucking expansion. Still, the industry should be careful not to confuse that door with a blanket approval for every freight segment. The state’s updated autonomous vehicle rules create a permitting path for heavy-duty autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, while companies such as Kodiak AI are pushing the technology deeper into commercial freight, oilfield logistics, industrial operations, and hardware-scale partnerships. For tank fleets, the most important part of the story is not simply that driverless heavy-duty freight is moving forward. It is that the first wave is being shaped by technical limits, operating-domain restrictions, safety cases, emergency-response requirements, remote operations, and a clear California carveout affecting bulk-liquid commercial motor vehicles that require a tank endorsement. That makes this moment more important than a typical regulatory update. Autonomous trucking expansion is entering a phase in which policy, software, sensors, manufacturing, fleet maintenance, insurance, customer-site integration, and public-safety procedures must work together. The technology is no longer judged only by whether a truck can stay in its lane on an interstate. It is being judged by whether it can become a dependable freight system. For more reporting, follow Tank Transport Trader’s related coverage on autonomous truck development. “The
Jun 30, 2026 · via tanktransport.com
Artificial intelligence valuations remain heavily dependent on one key assumption: that companies outside the technology sector will eventually translate AI investments into meaningfully higher profit margins, according to Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok.
Slok argues that evidence of those gains
Jun 30, 2026 · via seekingalpha.com
CiDi Pivots to Trillion-Yuan Market: From Autonomous Mining Trucks to the "Brain" for Heavy-Duty Embodied AI Just six months after claiming the title of "first autonomous mining truck stock" on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CiDi (03883.HK) is no longer content with being a leader solely in the transport segment. At the Transport Logistic China 2026 expo in June, CEO Hu Sibo systematically articulated a more ambitious strategic pivot for the first time: becoming the "brain" for heavy-duty embodied AI, extending the company's business from mining transport into the full chain of high-risk operational scenarios, including drilling, blasting, excavating, and loading. Hu Sibo distilled the core logic of this new direction into a concise formula: Heavy-Duty Embodied AI = Physical AI × Heavy Machinery × High-Risk Operations. In his view, physical AI is the technological engine, heavy machinery is the physical carrier, and high-risk operations represent the essential application scenarios. The combination of these three elements creates a powerful multiplier effect. The foundational judgment behind this layout is that artificial intelligence must penetrate the core industries that truly transform the physical world, and that resource extraction, global logistics, and large-scale infrastructure represent the most socially valuable landing points for the AI dividend. The original motivation is direct and simple. "Send machines to the most dangerous places, and bring people back to the safest positions," Hu Sibo stated. "What heavy-duty embodied AI does is not replace human jobs, but liberate people from mining truck cabins, blasting sites, and kilometer-deep shafts." The Inevitable Leap from Transport to Operations CiDi's confidence is built on the proven commercial closed loop of its autonomous mining truck business. As of February 2026, the company had deployed over 1,700 autonomous mining trucks, creating the world's largest mixed fleet of unmanned and manned vehicles, with operational scenarios spanning
Jun 30, 2026 · via finance.biggo.com
Jungheinrich is taking a stake in Navflex, a technology company specialising in Physical AI and the automation of truck loading and unloading. The investment strengthens the partnership between the two companies, with the aim of bringing an autonomous solution for one of the last non-automated core processes in intralogistics to market. Development is focused on the requirements of the European and North American markets. Navflex, established in Germany and the United States, focuses on automating truck loading and unloading, one of the most technically demanding use cases in intralogistics. Different trailer geometries, changing load carriers and confined space conditions place high demands on technology, safety and reliability. Demand for automation at the loading dock is particularly high, as labour-intensive processes meet a shortage of skilled workers and increasing pressure for efficiency. “Loading and unloading trucks is a key bottleneck in the material flow for many of our customers,” says Dr Tobias Harzer, chief automation officer of Jungheinrich. “Together with Navflex, we are developing a solution that specifically addresses this process and reliably automates it. In addition to robustness, compactness, and maneuverability at the loading dock, we place particular emphasis on safety – especially in environments where humans and machines operate side by side.” As part of the collaboration, Jungheinrich combines its expertise in developing industrial trucks and autonomous mobile robots, its industry knowledge and its systems integration and service capabilities with Navflex’s software and robotics expertise. The joint solution is based on an industrialised vehicle platform from Jungheinrich that is being further developed for automated operation at the loading dock. The result is an autonomous mobile solution tailored to variable dock environments, which can be integrated into existing logistics processes without additional infrastructure. Navflex contributes software for autonomous perception, navigation, safety and process logic in the truck environment. “We deliberately
Jun 30, 2026 · via ivtinternational.com
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Jun 30, 2026 · via youtube.com
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Jun 30, 2026 · via youtube.com
Auckland-based Etrucks has been appointed the Australian and New Zealand distributor for Chinese electric truck manufacturer Zeron, with the company’s flagship battery-electric prime mover scheduled to arrive in both markets by January 2027. The first model to be introduced will be the Jingzhe, a 6×4 prime mover powered by a 600kWh CATL chassis-mounted battery. The truck produces up to 1060hp and features Zeron’s proprietary Matrix integrated electric drive axle system which combines the motor, transmission, axle housing and power take-off into a single assembly. According to the company, the drivetrain delivers around 94% efficiency with a range of 325km at 49t highway speeds and 410km at metro speeds. The vehicle can recharge from 20% to 80% in 39 minutes using 4 x 300A fast charging. Etrucks director Ross Linton says the appointment will bring a new generation of electric heavy trucks to operators in Australia and New Zealand. “Zeron is a 2022 startup with 2000 trucks already running in China,” he says. “Their focus is to build the most efficient and reliable EV platforms to enable the roll out of L4 autonomy for road transport.” Linton says Zeron has attracted significant backing since its launch. “Zeron have attracted a serious portfolio of investors. They remain the only truck manufacturer that CATL have invested in directly.” He says the company’s founders bring extensive expertise to the business. Zeron was founded by three senior executives with extensive experience in autonomous driving and heavy truck manufacturing. Chief executive Huang Zehua co-founded autonomous trucking company TuSimple and led development of its autonomous driving systems before the company became the first autonomous driving business to list on the Nasdaq. President Zhang Hongsong previously held senior engineering roles at SANY Heavy Trucks and Beijing Foton Daimler, while chief operating officer Zhang Wei has more than 25
Jun 30, 2026 · via transporttalk.co.nz
Tiny Swarm Robots Boost Mining Efficiency Tiny swarm robots inspired by ants and bees could boost efficiency by up to 80% in mining operations. What comes to mind when you think about the types of robots that are involved in mining? For most people, it’s probably big autonomous trucks that are used for hauling, or robotic drilling and blasting systems that clear earth out of the way. However, these big, impressive machines are not the only ones that have a place in the field. There are also tiny robots that scurry about to make mining safer and more efficient. A particularly interesting system of this sort was just described by a trio of researchers at the University of Adelaide. Instead of focusing on massive industrial equipment, the team explored how groups of inexpensive swarm robots could cooperate to transport ore more efficiently. Their work borrows ideas from nature, specifically the foraging behaviors of leafcutter ants and honeybees, to determine whether decentralized robots can outperform more conventional approaches in simplified mining scenarios. The researchers implemented three different strategies using a commercial robotics platform. The first, called the Baseline model, is intentionally simple. A single robot travels down a haul route until it discovers an ore deposit, returns it to the base, then heads back out to continue searching. While easy to understand and implement, this approach wastes considerable time repeatedly traveling over the same ground. The second strategy, inspired by leafcutter ants, divides the work between two robots. One serves as a loader that continuously explores and identifies ore, while the other acts as a dedicated hauler responsible for transporting material back to the base. This tandem approach allows exploration and transportation to occur simultaneously, reducing idle time and improving overall throughput. The third strategy takes inspiration from honeybees. Rather than
Jun 30, 2026 · via hackster.io