A pedestrian was killed after being struck by an SUV and then hit by an unoccupied Waymo vehicle late Friday night, according to Dallas police. Police said the crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on Maple Avenue. Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are NBC 5 obtained surveillance video of the incident. The video shows two people walking out of a store and approaching the street. Both wait at the curb before one of them, a man, steps onto Maple Avenue. Create a free account with NBC 5 DFW to save articles and videos. According to Dallas police, the man was struck from behind by an SUV traveling in the southbound lanes. Investigators said the impact threw him into the northbound lanes, where he was then struck by a Waymo self-driving vehicle. Police said no one was inside the Waymo vehicle at the time of the crash. Surveillance video shows the vehicle stopping as people ran to help. Waymo said in a statement: Local The latest news from around North Texas. "The safety of our riders and other road users is our top priority. We are deeply saddened by what happened and our thoughts are with the individual's family and friends. We are in touch with first responders and grateful for their quick response last evening." According to Waymo, the man was thrown over 30 feet by the inital collision with the SUV before he made contact with the left side of their vehicle. Police said the driver of the SUV remained at the scene. The man was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The investigation remains ongoing. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
Aug 8, 2026 · via nbcdfw.com
A pedestrian was killed after being struck by an SUV and then hit by an unoccupied Waymo vehicle late Friday night, according to Dallas police. Police said the crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on Maple Avenue. Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are NBC 5 obtained surveillance video of the incident. The video shows two people walking out of a store and approaching the street. Both wait at the curb before one of them, a man, steps onto Maple Avenue. Create a free account with NBC 5 DFW to save articles and videos. According to Dallas police, the man was struck from behind by an SUV traveling in the southbound lanes. Investigators said the impact threw him into the northbound lanes, where he was then struck by a Waymo self-driving vehicle. Police said no one was inside the Waymo vehicle at the time of the crash. Surveillance video shows the vehicle stopping as people ran to help. Waymo said in a statement: Local The latest news from around North Texas. "The safety of our riders and other road users is our top priority. We are deeply saddened by what happened and our thoughts are with the individual's family and friends. We are in touch with first responders and grateful for their quick response last evening." According to Waymo, the man was thrown over 30 feet by the inital collision with the SUV before he made contact with the left side of their vehicle. Police said the driver of the SUV remained at the scene. The man was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The investigation remains ongoing. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
Aug 8, 2026 · via nbcdfw.com
Man fatally struck by two vehicles in Dallas
On Friday, August 7, 2026, at approximately 11:33 p.m., Dallas Police and Fire Rescue responded to a major accident near the intersection of Maple Avenue and Lucas Drive.
The preliminary investigation determined that a man entered the street and was struck by an SUV driving southbound on Maple Avenue, causing him to fall into the northbound lane where he was hit by an autonomous vehicle.
The man was transported to the hospital, where he died.
The driver of the first vehicle remained at the scene; the autonomous vehicle was unoccupied.
The crash remains under investigation.
Aug 8, 2026 · via dfwscanner.net
Silk Might Be The Reason 6G Internet Is Coming Sooner Than You Think Optical fiber already plays a big role in delivering gigabit internet to your devices. It's even more important for service providers where they deal with speeds in the hundreds of gigabits to route all sorts of traffic to the right destination. Wireless carriers are riding off the back of that fiber, feeding their over-the-air 5G networks through wireline fronthaul and backhaul feeds. But the future is 6G. The industry is gearing up for terabit speeds, and that means fiber-optic connections are gonna have to step up, potentially with new types of fiber. The same companies that promised remotely-driven robotic surgeries, virtual reality mainstreaming, and autonomous vehicle traffic management with 5G are now planning out 6G networks into the 2030s with a "Greatest Hits" compilation of the same promises. Okay. But to achieve everything they're envisioning, they'll have to ramp capacity and throughput by an order of magnitude at least across every last bit of infrastructure not to mention all of the devices we use at the very end of that pipeline. Glass and plastic have long been transmitting pulses of light through fiber-optic bundles. Each material has embedded advantages and flaws in their properties that make one better for home connections and the other better in data centers. The push to 6G has meant laboratory tests to get existing materials ready for terabit speeds. But research is now putting silk — yes, the stuff that comes from worms and spiders that's used to make fancy nightgowns — into the spotlight as a cost-effective building block of 6G that could bring the best of both glass and plastic. How silk might become part of 6G networks Silk might be known for its luxurious look and feel in clothing,
Aug 8, 2026 · via bgr.com
- United States - / - Machinery - / - NYSE:OSK Oshkosh (OSK) Gains An AI Angle As Nextera Deal Puts Fair Value In Focus Oshkosh stock reaction to Nextera Robotics deal Oshkosh (OSK) has drawn fresh attention after announcing an equity investment in Nextera Robotics, an AI and robotics firm focused on autonomous construction project management and job site intelligence. The move links Oshkosh’s equipment ecosystem, including its JLG access platforms, with Nextera’s autonomous robots and data tools. Investors now have a clearer view of how the company is integrating AI, connectivity, and on site analytics into future offerings. See our latest analysis for Oshkosh. At a share price of $155.26, Oshkosh has logged a 1-month share price return of 10.95% and a year to date share price return of 17.43%, while the 3-year total shareholder return of 57.51% points to momentum that has been building ahead of the Nextera Robotics announcement and recent earnings, guidance, dividend, and buyback updates. If you are looking beyond Oshkosh for other AI linked opportunities in the automation space, now could be a good time to check out 36 robotics and automation stocks. Oshkosh now sits at $155.26 after the Nextera Robotics deal and recent earnings, dividend, and buyback news. Does that price already reflect the AI push, or are you being compensated to wait for a better entry? Most Popular Narrative: 7.2% Undervalued The most followed valuation narrative currently places Oshkosh’s fair value at $167.25 compared with the recent share price of $155.26, which implies a modest discount and puts extra focus on the growth and margin story behind that number. Oshkosh's accelerating innovation in electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicle technologies positions the company to win incremental business and command higher margins as customers shift toward sustainability and digital solutions. Read the
Aug 8, 2026 · via simplywall.st
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Aug 8, 2026 · via dallasnews.com
Uber's founding proposition was that a transport company need not own vehicles. Drivers supplied the cars, Uber supplied the software, and the absence of a fleet on the balance sheet was the whole point. That proposition is now being abandoned at a cost of more than $10 billion. The Commitment Uber will invest over $10 billion in autonomous vehicles, according to reporting by the Financial Times. Roughly $7.5 billion is allocated to procuring the vehicles themselves, with more than $2.5 billion going into equity investments in Lucid, Rivian and other manufacturers. The target is 120,000 autonomous vehicles deployed over the coming years, with robotaxis operating in 15 cities. Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi has said Uber intends to carry the largest share of autonomous vehicle trips globally by 2029. Why The Model Had To Change The asset-light structure worked because the marginal cost of adding capacity was borne by drivers. Uber matched supply to demand through pricing and took a cut. It never had to finance a car. Trending Stories Autonomous vehicles break that arrangement at its foundation. There is no driver to buy the vehicle, insure it, maintain it or absorb its depreciation. Somebody has to own the fleet, and if Uber does not, then whoever does owns the customer relationship — and Uber becomes a booking layer on top of someone else's asset, in a market where the asset is the scarce thing. Waymo's expanding presence across US cities and Amazon's Zoox scaling its purpose-built vehicles have made that risk concrete. Both operate their own fleets and their own apps. A rider who opens Waymo directly has no reason to open Uber at all. The Diversification Strategy Khosrowshahi has been explicit about not wanting dependence on any single autonomous vehicle developer: ‘We want to make sure that we’re not
Aug 8, 2026 · via wionews.com
Amazon's Zoox to launch paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas Big News Network.com Amazon's Zoox to launch paid robotaxi rides in Las Vegas SAN FRANCISCO, California: Amazon's Zoox will begin charging passengers for driverless robotaxi rides in Las Vegas next week, marking its first commercial service days after receiving U.S. regulatory approval to deploy its vehicles without human controls. Zoox said it will start paid rides from August 10. The company has been carrying passengers for free in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Austin and Miami as part of its testing program. The commercial launch intensifies competition in the U.S. robotaxi market, where Alphabet's Waymo already operates paid driverless services in multiple cities, and Tesla has begun rolling out its own service. Zoox said fares will be comparable to the "comfort" tier offered by other ride-hailing companies. Pricing will be based on a base fare plus time and distance using the best available route, with any destination-specific fees, such as airport trips, disclosed upfront. Riders will not pay more if the robotaxi takes a longer route than originally planned. The company did not say when paid rides would begin in its other operating cities. Last week, Zoox became the first autonomous ride-hailing company to receive an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from federal rules requiring human driving controls. The decision marked a milestone for companies building robotaxis from the ground up rather than adapting conventional vehicles. The approval is limited to deploying up to 2,500 vehicles in each of the next two years. NHTSA said it determined Zoox's vehicle was as safe as an equivalent vehicle that complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards. However, the agency imposed additional reporting requirements covering issues such as crashes and vehicles stopping inappropriately on roads. Robotaxi operators continue to face
Aug 8, 2026 · via bignewsnetwork.com
Over Half of First-Timers Reject Autonomous Buses, Survey Shows Trust Gap Widens With Experience An online survey conducted by private research firm MM Research Institute (Tokyo) has revealed that whether or not a person has actually ridden in an autonomous vehicle decisively influences their trust in the technology and their willingness to use it. Approximately 80% of respondents who had ridden an autonomous bus said they found it "more trustworthy than, or equally as trustworthy as, a human driver," while over half of those without such experience expressed reluctance, saying they "do not want to use" the service. The firm characterizes this gap as "evidence that a significant number of people are hesitant due to prejudice without experience," and is urging Japan's government and operators to proactively disseminate information to promote public understanding. The survey was conducted online from June 18 to 21, 2026, targeting 3,000 men and women aged 15 to 79 across Japan. Of these, roughly 300 respondents — about 10% of the total — reported having actually ridden in an autonomous vehicle. Viewed against the full sample, the data underscores that autonomous driving remains a "distant reality" for most people. The gap was stark on questions concerning trust. Among those with no riding experience, only 10.9% said they would trust an autonomous bus "more than a human driver." That figure jumped to 48.6% — nearly half — among experienced riders. When combined with those who answered "equally as trustworthy as a human driver," positive assessments reached 44.6% (10.9% + 33.7%) for inexperienced respondents, compared with 80.2% (48.6% + 31.6%) for experienced ones. The same survey posed identical questions about autonomous taxi-type vehicles (robotaxis), showing that the experience-driven gap in perception is not limited to buses. | Item | Taxi | Bus | |---|---|---| | Trust "equal to
Aug 8, 2026 · via finance.biggo.com
Man dies after being hit by car, causing him to hit Waymo in opposite lane in Dallas, police say A man has died after the Dallas Police Department said he entered a street and was hit by a car late Friday night, causing an impact with what Waymo confirmed was one of their autonomously driven vehicles. Dallas Police said it happened around 11:30 p.m. along Maple Avenue near the intersection with Lucas Drive in the northern part of the city. Officers said their preliminary investigation currently suggests the man entered the roadway and was hit by an SUV that was driving south on Maple Avenue at first. That, in turn, reportedly caused him to fall into the northbound lane. While the department said he was hit by an autonomous vehicle, Waymo said he was thrown about 30 feet onto its car. A convenience store near the intersection shared surveillance footage with CBS News Texas showing the man leaving the store, walking into the street, and being struck seconds later by the SUV. The impact sent him to the opposite side of the road, where police say he was then hit by the Waymo. The video shows the Waymo coming to a complete stop immediately after the man was hit. Waymo confirmed the autonomous vehicle involved was one of its own. The company said in a statement, "The safety of our riders and other road users is our top priority. We are deeply saddened by what happened, and our thoughts are with the individual's family and friends. We are in touch with first responders and grateful for their quick response last evening." CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Aug 8, 2026 · via cbsnews.com
West Jordan, Utah — August 7, 2026 Today at South Valley Regional Airport about 70 legislators, federal and state officials, investors, and media gathered at a Skyshare hangar for a look at the Razorback — Hypercraft's new autonomous ground vehicle platform — and the counter-drone payload Fortem Technologies is building for it. The event, hosted by Provo-based Hypercraft in partnership with Base Case, 47G, and Fortem Technologies, paired a technical presentation with a "state of autonomy in defense" panel and a live vehicle demonstration. It's the most public step yet for Hypercraft's shift from a broad hybrid-and-electric powertrain supplier, as covered by TechBuzz in June of 2025, into a dedicated defense platform company — a pivot formalized in December when the board named Brian Bowers, a former Maersk executive who joined Hypercraft as president in 2024, as chief executive officer. Founder Jake Hawksworth moved into the role of executive chairman and chief product officer. West Jordan sets the stage West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton welcomed the audience, noting the city's growing footprint in advanced manufacturing and its roughly 600 football fields' worth of vacant industrial land in the city's southwest quadrant — an implicit pitch to the room's investors and site-selection watchers. Councilmember Kent Shelton also attended, alongside Jim Grover, West Jordan Economic Development Director, who helped organize the event. Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, the Utah House majority whip who represents Riverton and Herriman, followed with remarks tying Hypercraft and Fortem to the state's broader aerospace and defense buildout. Citing figures she attributed to state economic data, Pierucci said Utah's aerospace and defense employment has grown 23.4% over the past five years, industry wages are up 31%, the sector now accounts for 19.2% of Utah's GDP, and Utah ranks first nationally in five-year aerospace and defense growth at 62%. A
Aug 8, 2026 · via techbuzznews.com
To interpret the road, autonomous vehicles really need data annotation. Cameras, LiDAR, and radar collect raw input, but that data is basically useless until it is labeled. If you ask what is data annotation in this context, it is the process of tagging objects, lanes, and obstacles so perception models can learn from real scenarios. ML engineers use a data annotation platform to manage 2D and 3D labeling at scale, and many teams compare data annotation reviews before selecting tools or partners. Some rely on data annotation outsourcing to handle large volumes of sensor data. In self-driving systems, label quality directly affects how the vehicle reacts in traffic. k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mw@H pFE@?@>@FD '69:4=6D “$66” E96 #@25k^DA2?mk^9am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m$6=7\5C:G:?8 42CD 5@?VE D66 =:<6 9F>2?D] x?DE625[ E96J AC@46DD =@25D @7 D6?D@C 52E2 2?5 4@?G6CE E96> :?E@ AC65:4E:@?D] %@ F?56CDE2?5 H9J 2??@E2E:@? >2EE6CD[ J@F 7:CDE ?665 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H92E E96 G69:4=6 C646:G6D]k^DA2?mk^Am k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m$6?D@CD %92E v6?6C2E6 #2H sC:G:?8 s2E2k^DA2?mk^9bm kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mpFE@?@>@FD G69:4=6D C6=J @? >F=E:A=6 D6?D@CD H@C<:?8 E@86E96Cik^DA2?mk^Am kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr2>6C2Dk^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m{:sp#k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#252Ck^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m&=EC2D@?:4 D6?D@CDk^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mv!$ 2?5 x|& DJDE6>Dk^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mt249 D6?D@C 42AEFC6D 2 5:776C6?E EJA6 @7 D:8?2=] r2>6C2D AC@G:56 G:DF2= 7C2>6D] {:sp# AC@5F46D bs A@:?E 4=@F5D] #252C >62DFC6D @3;64E DA665 2?5 5:DE2?46] %96 A6C46AE:@? DJDE6> 4@>3:?6D E96D6 :?AFED E9C@F89 D6?D@C 7FD:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am k9b 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(92E #2H $6?D@C s2E2 p4EF2==J {@@<D {:<6k^DA2?mk^9bm kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#2H 52E2 :D ?@E =236=65] p 42>6C2 7C2>6 :D ;FDE A:I6=D] p {:sp# D42? :D ;FDE >:==:@?D @7 DA2E:2= A@:?ED] %96C6 :D ?@ 3F:=E\:? E28 E92E D2JD “A656DEC:2?” @C “DE@A D:8?]” (:E9@FE =236=:?8 px DJDE6>D 42?VE :56?E:7Jik^DA2?mk^Am kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp A=2DE:4 328 7C@> 2 C@4<k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp A2C<65 42C 7C@> 2 >@G:?8 @?6k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp =2?6 >2C<:?8 7C@> 2 C@25 4C24<k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%9:D :D H96C6 DECF4EFC65k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=236=J@FC52E2]4@>^2CE:4=6D^52E2\2??@E2E:@?QmkDA2?m52E2 2??@E2E:@?k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m364@>6D 6DD6?E:2=]k^DA2?mk^Am k9a 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(92E xD s2E2 p??@E2E:@? :? pFE@?@>@FD sC:G:?8k^DA2?mk^9am
Aug 8, 2026 · via elkharttruth.com
While the automotive industry scrambles to decipher China’s rapid rise, Michael Dunne argues that what is happening is not just routine commercial expansion, but an industrial takeover. Joining us on today’s Inside Automotive episode is Michael Dunne, CEO of Dunne Insights, Author of the upcoming book Car Wars: How China Seized the Auto Industry –and How America Can Win It Back, and Author of the recent Wall Street Journal op-ed We can’t afford to Ignore China’s Auto Threat,” to discuss a candid wake-up call to American dealers, executives, and policymakers. For observers who assume Chinese automakers will follow the slow, steady playbook used by Japanese and Korean brands in past decades, Dunne cautions against nostalgia. He says that China’s strategy operates on a scale and ambition never seen before. "From the inside out, the Chinese way is not to attack militarily unless they absolutely have to. But they'd prefer to work industries and countries from the inside out..." Instead of waging direct military or confrontational battles, China prefers to hollow out key industries from the inside out. Dunne points to Europe as the prime example, saying Beijing pitched its EVs to European nations as the fastest track to meeting their ambitious climate goals. The strategy, he said, paid off when China went from virtually no market presence to exporting over one million cars to Europe in a single year, capturing roughly 10% of the market. Elsewhere, the numbers are even higher, with Chinese models now accounting for 20% of sales in the UK and Mexico, and a staggering 35% in Australia. He notes that the impact on legacy manufacturing is also already becoming evident. For instance, Volkswagen recently unveiled plans to shut down factories in Germany for the first time since World War II. Meanwhile, Honda experienced unprecedented losses across
Aug 8, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Glimpses of gold-colored Tesla Cybercabs tooling around city streets in recent days have raised questions about whether the electric vehicle company is looking to expand its autonomous robotaxi service into San Diego. Tesla officials have not responded to multiple emails from the Union-Tribune about any plans to start testing, mapping and gathering data for potential business in the city, nor did the company make comments about multiple reported sightings of the distinctive-looking vehicles spotted in neighborhoods such as East Village, Pacific Beach, Sorrento Valley and around San Diego International Airport. Judging from photos and short videos, the vehicles appear to fit the description of a Tesla Cybercab prototype — a futuristic two-seat robotaxi concept model with a gold exterior, no side mirrors, no rear window and no steering wheel inside, just a screen. An official with the Metropolitan Transit System told the Union-Tribune that MTS is not aware of Tesla performing any autonomous vehicle testing program in San Diego. In a separate email, a spokesperson for the city of San Diego echoed those remarks. But local jurisdictions do not have a say in how and when autonomous ride-hailing services roll out in California. Testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles are regulated by state agencies and according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Tesla Robotaxi LLC holds a permit to “test with a safety driver authorized to test on any public road” within the state. Through the California Public Utilities Commission, Tesla has received a Transportation Charter-Party (TCP) permit that allows for a human driver to operate a traditional vehicle — but not an autonomous vehicle — for charter services with the public. A spokesperson for the commission said in an email Thursday that Tesla “has not requested nor been granted any changes to their TCP permit since it was
Aug 7, 2026 · via sandiegouniontribune.com
Your Next Car Might Drive Better Than You: The Perception of AI in Automobiles The AI Trust Barrier in Modern Transportation Picture this: you speak your destination aloud and sit back with your morning coffee while artificial intelligence navigates rush hour traffic with surgical precision. This reality is closer than you think, but there is one massive roadblock standing in the way of widespread adoption. It is not the technology. It is consumer trust. Self-driving cars represent the ultimate leap of faith in artificial intelligence. Unlike asking a virtual assistant for the weather, autonomous vehicles demand we surrender control over our personal safety. These vehicles utilize a symphony of sensors—cameras that see in multiple spectrums, radar that penetrates fog, and LIDAR that maps the world in real-time 3D. Every millisecond, AI algorithms process thousands of data points to make split-second decisions that would overwhelm human drivers. The technology learns continuously across the global fleet. Yet, the trillion-dollar question remains: is the public ready to let go of the steering wheel? Technology Fatigue vs. AI Adoption The 2026 Ipsos Global Mobility Report reveals a striking paradox regarding the perception of AI in automobiles: most people believe modern cars already have too much technology. The baseline data highlights a clear sense of "technology fatigue" among global consumers: Key figures 55% believe cars are oversaturated with tech 27% remain neutral on current tech levels Only 18% think current technology levels hit the sweet spot This fatigue varies dramatically by geography. In Indonesia, Türkiye, and Mexico, over two-thirds of consumers feel overwhelmed by automotive technology. Conversely, markets like China, Sweden, and New Zealand embrace this digital transformation with significantly more enthusiasm. The Trust Equation: Global Attitudes Toward Autonomous Vehicles Despite the complexity of modern vehicles, trust in autonomous driving is quietly growing. Currently, 36%
Aug 7, 2026 · via ipsos.com
Avatar Robotics this week said it has raised $6.5 million in a seed financing round. AlleyCorp led the investment, which followed a pre-seed round led by defy.vc. Additional participants included Headline, Henry Ford III, Refashiond, Paul Vogel, Jack Huffard, and Samuel Udotong. The funding aims to support the deployment of Avatar Robotics’ semi-humanoid robots across logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing operations. The San Francisco-based startup said it plans to allocate capital toward scaling robot fleets, expanding customer deployments, advancing its autonomy software, and expanding engineering and operations teams. Founding team has autonomous vehicle experience Avatar Robotics was founded in 2024 by Colin Webb and Nenye Anagbogu, both graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). CEO Webb’s background includes engineering autonomous systems across self-driving cars and AI-powered drones, as well as previously founding an AI startup alongside Anagbogu. “Colin’s vision for Avatar instantly captivated me,” said Amy Yin, a partner at defy.vc. “The path to full robotic autonomy will require both better hardware and massive amounts of real-world data. Avatar’s approach is incredibly clever: Use remote human operators to bridge the gap today while improving autonomy with every task completed. I believe that model can help Avatar build one of the largest humanoid robot fleets in the world.” Avatar’s technical team includes engineers and operational personnel with prior experience at institutions and companies such as Cruise, Apple, Tesla, Intuitive Surgical, Unity, and MIT. Avatar Robotics uses a human-in-the-loop operational model Humanoid hardware, remote teleoperation, and machine-learning autonomy comprise Avatar Robotics’ development framework. The company claimed that its approach addresses persistent U.S. labor shortages in sectors experiencing high turnover or hiring difficulty due to repetitive and physically demanding tasks. Rather than rely purely on fully autonomous software or fixed-site automation, Avatar Robotics said it employs a human-in-the-loop strategy. - Immediate deployment: Remote
Aug 7, 2026 · via therobotreport.com
Truck hits, kills e-scooter rider in downtown San Francisco on Market Street A truck struck and killed a woman on an electric scooter in downtown San Francisco on Friday morning, police said. The collision happened at about 8:18 a.m. on Market Street near Powell Street. The San Francisco Police Department said officers found the woman in the street with life-threatening injuries and began life-saving aid before medics arrived. She was declared dead at the scene. Police spokesman Officer Robert Rueca said the vehicle was a commercial vehicle and the driver was cooperating with the investigation. Licensed commercial and delivery vehicles are allowed on that portion of Market Street, along with taxis, emergency vehicles, Waymo autonomous vehicles and some higher-end commercial Uber and Lyft cars. Bicycles, e-bikes and scooters are permitted along designated bike lanes, while private vehicles and typical ride-share vehicles are prohibited along the downtown portion of Market Street. Rueca said the investigation was determining whether the vehicle involved had the proper licensing to operate on Market Street. He said the circumstances of the crash were still under investigation and the area was being canvassed to find any surveillance camera video of the collision. Police said the department's traffic collision unit was leading the investigation, and anyone with information was asked to contact the department at 415-575-4444 or by sending a text to TIP411 and beginning the message with SFPD.
Aug 7, 2026 · via cbsnews.com
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Aug 7, 2026 · via sfchronicle.com
Waymo has added one mo’ type of vehicle to its fleet in the Seattle area, where the company has been testing for the launch of its autonomous taxi service sometime down the road. GeekWire spotted a boxy baby blue Ojai in the parking lot of a Fred Meyer store in the Ballard neighborhood on Friday morning. A driver inside confirmed the cute little van with an array of cameras on the front, back and top was indeed one of the company’s newest vehicles. Waymo first announced in May that the Ojai (pronounced oh-hi) was rolling out in initial cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The purpose-built electric Ojai is developed in partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr and assembled in Mesa, Ariz. It joins the electric Jaguar I-Pace SUV that is a frequent sight on roads around Seattle and the Eastside where testing with a driver first started last September. Zeekr is the premium electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group — the Chinese automotive titan behind Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. Originally designed at Geely’s research center in Gothenburg, Sweden, the base vehicle platform is customized specifically for autonomous ride-hailing before Waymo equips it with its self-driving tech stack. The Ojai features Waymo’s 6th-generation autonomous hardware stack, which reduces sensor costs while improving performance in complex road and weather conditions, according to the company. The San Francisco Examiner reported that the updated sensor array has 13 cameras and four lidar sensors, compared with 29 cameras and five lidar sensors in the previous version. The inside of the Ojai looks especially roomy, which Waymo calls “a living room on wheels,” featuring elevator-like doors and a low step and flat floor that apparently make it easier to get in and out. Three LED screens are customizable for temperature, music and
Aug 7, 2026 · via geekwire.com
Autonomous ride-hailing company Zoox will start charging for rides in Las Vegas next week, ending its free pilot program. Starting Aug. 10, the Amazon-owned startup will begin offering a paid service for its pod-shaped, purpose-built robotaxis — a bummer for free riders, but the next logical step for the company in its growth from a flashy startup to a viable business model. Zoox’s road from pilot program to paid rides has been more of an expressway. CNET Senior Writer Abrar Al-Heeti was one of the first to test ride Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxi in 2024. The pilot program opened to the public in 2025 with free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco, later expanding to Austin and Miami. The pod-shaped autonomous vehicles were among the highlights of CES 2026, roaming the Vegas strip. Since launch, Zoox claims it has carried nearly 1 million riders across its pilot cities, covering over 3 million miles on public roads. Last week, Zoox announced that it had received the Part 555 commercial exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, giving the company federal regulatory approval to charge for rides in its purpose-built robotaxi. According to a Zoox representative, the next step was completing “the necessary notifications in Nevada to begin charging for rides.” Starting Aug. 10, Zoox will flip the switch and start charging for rides in Las Vegas. Optimized pricing According to Zoox, fares will initially be calculated based on a base fare, distance traveled, time traveled from pickup to drop-off and applicable taxes. Destination fees — for trips to or from the airport or to high-traffic events at the Sphere or T-Mobile Arena, for example — may also apply, following a structure similar to that of other ride-hailing and traditional taxi services. To start, Zoox says it’s aiming to be competitive
Aug 7, 2026 · via cnet.com