Ford to use Apple Maps software in self-driving tech for new EV platform The automaker's new Universal Electric Vehicle platform will debut with a mid-size EV pickup priced around $30,000 in 2027 Ford is planning to integrate Apple software into its next-generation fleet of electric vehicles, which will, in turn, help power hands-free driving technology. Apple and Ford announced Thursday that Apple Maps will be included in the automakers' new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform through the use of Apple's MapKit for Automotive SDK. Ford's UEV will debut with a midsize electric in 2027, and buyers won't need a separate Apple subscription to use the software in the vehicle. The UEV will harness that tech to give drivers turn-by-turn directions with the use of natural language, giving them real-time traffic and incident information, as well as a search function that uses detailed place cards and routing options. The partnership will also see Ford use road-level data from Apple Maps in the development of the company's next-generation BlueCruise hands-free driving capability, as well as its in-house autonomous driving tech. APPLE RAISES PRICES ON SOME STREAMING SERVICES AS LICENSING COSTS CLIMB Apple's MapKit for Automotive SDK provides road-level information to help automakers develop self-driving technologies, and the company said the tool uses the same privacy practices as Apple Maps, noting that it doesn't collect users' location details and activity in a way that can be linked to the individual user. "Apple Maps delivers the best map experience in the world, and we’re excited to bring the power of Maps’ navigation technology to Ford’s innovative Universal Electric Vehicle Platform," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of services and health. "With our new MapKit for Automotive SDK, we’re bringing Maps further into drivers’ daily lives, giving them an incredibly accurate and easy-to-use navigation system that
Jul 23, 2026 · via foxbusiness.com
Ford's next-generation EV will integrate Apple Maps Ford Motor Co.'s next-generation, affordable electric vehicle platform will integrate Apple Maps to support driver navigation and enable hands-free driving. The Dearborn automaker and Apple Inc. announced on Thursday the partnership that will have Ford being one of the first to leverage the Silicon Valley tech giant's MapKit for Automotive software development for its forthcoming electric midsize truck expected to start at $30,000 that's launching next year at Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The embedding means consumers can access Apple Maps without connecting their smartphone to the vehicle. Unlike General Motors Co. that chose to phase out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Ford still plans to support those technologies on the Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, spokesperson Amy Mast said. The Apple Maps integration just offers consumers a different option for live-traffic, turn-by-turn navigation, place locating and EV routing for charging stations. It also works with the vehicle to precondition the battery for better travel performance. Latitude AI, Ford's wholly owned autonomy subsidiary of 600 machine learning, robotics and software specialists, also will leverage Apple Maps for the development of Ford's in-house advanced driving system. The UEV will have Level 2 hands-off driving at launch in 2027, and Ford expects to launch in 2028 Level 3 driving for the platform that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road. "We’re proud to embed Apple Maps’ navigation and mapping technology directly into our Universal Electric Vehicle Platform," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement, "giving customers the ultimate navigation experience alongside our Ford app, a full suite of software, and next-generation BlueCruise, all enabled by a new zonal architecture. Apple Maps has delivered a world-class product, and we’re honored to be among the first to embed it directly into a vehicle, helping define
Jul 23, 2026 · via detroitnews.com
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Jul 23, 2026 · via autonews.com
Driverless cars are here, and they are apparently better drivers than humans, according to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The independent safety watchdog organization analyzed the accident rate of Waymo’s autonomous rideshare vehicles compared with human drivers and found that the driverless vehicles were involved in 68 percent fewer crashes per mile traveled. Crash data was examined for over 50 million driverless miles and was limited to crashes that were reported to law enforcement. Of course, there are some caveats to these findings. “The results show that, on a limited scale, these driverless cars are safer than human drivers—who can be impaired or drowsy or suffer lapses in attention,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “However, the present data collection system isn’t good enough to allow continuous monitoring of a large-scale expansion.” IIHS researchers gathered crash reports submitted to NHTSA by Cruise, Waymo, Zoox and others from 2021 to 2024 and cleaned up the data. Redundant records and crashes where the automation was not engaged were culled, eliminating a quarter of the reported crashes. Then, researchers calculated whether the remaining crashes would be severe enough to report to the police if a human were driving. Human drivers are generally required to report crashes that cause an injury or result in more than $1000 in property damage. Crashes in which an airbag deployed were classified as serious enough to report to police. Other factors defined the dataset included the nature of the impact and property damage as well as the types of injuries that were reported. That left only 22 percent of the 736 public-road crashes in which the automation was engaged likely to be police-reportable. All told, 89 crashes involved Waymo vehicles, 50 involved Cruise vehicles, 10 involved Zoox vehicles, and 10 involved other companies. Of
Jul 23, 2026 · via roadandtrack.com
Volkswagen targets Level 3 driving in China from 2027 Volkswagen is expanding its partnership with Horizon Robotics to achieve this goal and strengthen the capabilities of their joint venture, Carizon. The joint venture will gain access to Horizon’s AI foundation model and use it to develop its own software stack for automated driving. Volkswagen holds a 60 per cent stake in Carizon through its software subsidiary Cariad. The company has already developed a hardware chip for intelligent driving, which is also intended for use in China. According to the German Handelsblatt, the expanded partnership aims to accelerate the development of driver assistance systems through to highly automated driving. Volkswagen plans to bring Level 3 functions to series production for customers in China from the second half of 2027. At Level 3, the vehicle can take over the driving task under defined conditions. Drivers no longer need to monitor traffic continuously but must be ready to take back control when prompted. Volkswagen will integrate the new functions into its China Electronic Architecture 2.0 (CEA 2.0), developed for vehicles based on the new China-Specific Platform (CSP). In the long term, the architecture is also intended to support the transition to Level 4 autonomy. “China is one of our key gateways to innovation and technology – particularly in software, artificial intelligence, and automated driving,” said Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume. The solutions developed in China could potentially be deployed in selected international markets in the future, though regulatory requirements vary across regions. Volkswagen expands technology expertise in China These latest plans build on Volkswagen’s gradual expansion of its in-house capabilities for automated driving in China. In 2025, the carmaker announced that Carizon would develop its first system-on-chip (SoC) for driver assistance and automated driving. The planned computing platform, with 500 to 700 TOPS,
Jul 22, 2026 · via electrive.com
Slotkin ban on Chinese cars clears Senate committee Legislation to prohibit the sale of vehicles or connected software and hardware made by companies with significant links to China or other countries of concern was advanced by a U.S. Senate committee. U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, introduced the measure, saying the People's Republic of China is targeting export markets and that so-called connected vehicles, which transmit data and can even allow for remote control of autonomous vehicles, pose "substantial economic and national security risks" in the United States. But even as he allowed the bill to move forward on Wednesday, July 22, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said it isn't likely to pass the full Senate without a change to a portion of the bill that limits ownership by a covered country to 15%. That, Cruz said, would prohibit Mercedes-Benz (with just under 20% of its ownership tied to Chinese entities or individuals) from selling vehicles in the United States, even though the German-based automaker produces vehicles in South Carolina and Alabama. Cruz called for the bill to be amended in the future to let an interagency group, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFUS), determine whether ownership posed a risk no matter what percentage was controlled by foreign investors or countries. He also said the 15% cutoff was "retaliation" by the UAW, which supports the legislation, for its failure to unionize two Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama two years ago. Cruz allowed the bill to proceed to the full Senate without a formal roll call vote on the committee. As written, the legislation would, after Jan. 1, 2027, prohibit the import or sale of any connected vehicle made or designed in China, North Korea,
Jul 22, 2026 · via freep.com
Waymo robotaxi not at fault for weekend Las Vegas crash, company says A Waymo vehicle operating in autonomous mode was involved in a crash Saturday in Las Vegas, after a vehicle driven by a human lost control of their SUV, striking the robotaxi, according to a company spokesperson. The crash, which occurred on Polaris Avenue near West Sunset Road, occurred when an SUV driver traveling behind the Waymo lost control and struck the robotaxi and then a power pole, the Waymo spokesperson said. The Waymo was operating in autonomous mode and had no occupants in the robotaxi at the time of the crash, but an unidentified number of people who were in the SUV were taken to an area hospital with undisclosed injuries, according to the Waymo spokesperson. Waymo announced on July 8 that they were set to begin testing fully autonomous rides in Las Vegas without a safety driver in the vehicles. The driverless rides are only available to Waymo employees during the initial launch, while the robotaxis otherwise travel around the Las Vegas Valley without occupants. Waymo has been conducting test rides around the Las Vegas Valley since November, with the removal of safety drivers being the next step toward offering rides to the public. A timeline to when passengers will be available to the public has not been announced. Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
Jul 22, 2026 · via reviewjournal.com
Tesla expands driverless taxi service in Orlando as autonomous vehicle competition grows
Tesla has launched its driverless taxi service in Orlando, joining Waymo in bringing autonomous ride-hailing to Central Florida and further establishing the region as a testing ground for self-driving transportation.
Jul 22, 2026 · via fox35orlando.com
Record-breaking crowds that overwhelmed San Francisco's transit system and streets following the July Fourth fireworks show have prompted an investigation by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency. The SFMTA, which had urged the public to rely on mass transit for the holiday, admitted it was unprepared for the surge of passengers. Tens of thousands of people — including NBC Bay Area reporter Thom Jensen — were caught in the gridlock after flocking to buses, trains and Waymo autonomous vehicles. Watch NBC Bay Area News free wherever you are Judson True, SFMTA chief of staff and external affairs director, updated the board on Tuesday regarding the transit and traffic failures that stranded attendees into the early hours of July 5. “We are still very much working through our lessons learned for July Fourth. But the broad outlines are clear,” True said. Traffic and transit systems were simply overwhelmed by the volume of people, True noted. “We have some initial data,” True said. “We know the Muni system, as a whole, carried 41,000 more people than on the previous July Fourth. That’s about a 13% increase.” While the SFMTA does not regulate general traffic or autonomous vehicles in the city, True explained that the Muni system experienced severe delays caused by the heavy volume of cars on the streets, drivers illegally using bus lanes and breakdowns involving Waymo vehicles. Local “Based on our observations that night, we believe it took our shuttles about 90 minutes to make a trip we expected would take 30,” True said. The following day, Muni riders told NBC Bay Area that commutes took up to three times longer than usual, with some passengers forced to wait hours for buses and trains. “There’s only so much you can do before you kind of just accept your fate,” BART
Jul 22, 2026 · via nbcbayarea.com
[title] If you've taken a Waymo ride in Phoenix or Los Angeles, you might be wondering when New York will finally get its own fleet of driverless taxis. The answer: not anytime soon. But a new report is already raising fresh questions about whether robotaxis would actually make the city's streets safer—or more dangerous. Released this week by the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Hunter College and transportation advocacy group Open Plans, the study concludes that autonomous for-hire vehicles could be 1.5 times more likely than New York City's taxi, Uber and Lyft drivers to be involved in crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries, when measured per million miles traveled. That's an important finding because safety has long been one of the biggest selling points for autonomous vehicle companies. Waymo, Google's self-driving car company, has even argued that removing human error from the equation can dramatically reduce crashes. But the new report suggests the situation becomes more complicated when you compare robotaxis not with the average driver, but with New York City's professional for-hire drivers, who already have unusually strong safety records. The researchers analyzed publicly available safety data released by Waymo, along with 2025 crash data from the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission and Department of Transportation. Their conclusion wasn't that Waymo crashes more often overall. In fact, the opposite was true: the report found Waymo vehicles were involved in about 67% fewer injury crashes per million miles than New York's for-hire vehicles. But the surprise came when researchers isolated only the most severe crashes. By that measure, they found Waymo vehicles were involved in fatal or serious-injury crashes at a higher rate than the professional drivers they would likely replace. "For-hire vehicle drivers are professionals," Open Plans executive director Sara Lind told am New York. "They
Jul 22, 2026 · via timeout.com
France Says Tesla’s FSD Falls Short Of Safety Bar – Retail Turns Focus To Q2 Earnings - Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said that while Tesla’s ADAS offers significant technological progress, its safety benefits are not yet sufficient to justify authorization. - He emphasized that FSD is not a fully autonomous driving system and that drivers remain legally responsible for the vehicle at all times. - The minister said France is continuing technical discussions with Tesla, the Netherlands, and other European countries to further evaluate the technology. France has said that Tesla’s (TSLA) Full Self-Driving (FSD) system does not yet meet the country’s safety standards for approval, citing concerns over speeding, driver attention, and performance in complex urban environments. The development comes just hours before Tesla’s second-quarter results, with TSLA shares edging 0.3% lower after posting losses in four of the past five trading sessions. France Flags Risks Over Speeding, Driver Attention In an official video on France’s Agora platform, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said that while Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system offers significant technological progress, its safety benefits are not yet sufficient to justify authorization. He emphasized that FSD is not a fully autonomous driving system and that drivers remain legally responsible for the vehicle at all times. “First, we observed that the system allows for speeding. If it detects that the vehicles around it are traveling faster, it can, in other words, drive at 70 km/h instead of 50 km/h if traffic is moving at that speed, and this without any explicit request from the driver,” Tabarot said. “Another example: according to the data we have, the system cannot guarantee optimal driver attention in urban areas and during the most complex maneuvers, such as lane changes, intersections, or roundabouts,” the minister added. The minister said France is continuing technical
Jul 22, 2026 · via tradingview.com
UCLA RESEARCH BRIEF FINDINGS A research team led by UCLA and the University of Rochester has demonstrated a promising evolution of an imaging system designed to capture details within “complex media,” which scatter light, from depicting structures inside body tissue to seeing obstacles through heavy fog. The system uses physics-based machine learning to improve upon an existing imaging technique. In tests with standard calibration images obscured by complex media, the new system more than doubled the signal-to-noise ratio compared to a previous generation of the technology. The system also created images in close to real time — thousandths of a second. BACKGROUND Today, conventional applications for seeing inside complex media depend on expensive cameras that detect just beyond the limit of visible light, into the near-infrared. In contrast, the underlying method that the researchers improved can use relatively cheap silicon-based cameras, like those found in smartphones. Introduced 10 years ago by study co-authors from the University of Rochester, the technique relies on a special film that lets through some photons and not others to convert scattered light from the near-infrared to the visible range. However, this method tends to produce shadows in a vignetting effect that darkens the edges of images, reducing the field of view. And images can include artifacts as lighter or darker splotches. METHOD The researchers merged the existing imaging technique with a machine learning framework called DeepTimeGate. It has two stages, starting with an algorithm trained to reconstruct images mathematically. The key addition is the second algorithm, developed at UCLA, which quickly performs a reality check, constraining results based on the fundamental rules of physics. IMPACT Sensing inside complex media in near real time using silicon-based cameras would be a boon for biomedical imaging. DeepTimeGate may lead to less expensive, more effective imaging to guide surgeries,
Jul 22, 2026 · via newsroom.ucla.edu
Nat Ford Sr., the head of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, has been selected to lead the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. The board of directors of the Dallas system approved Ford’s hiring Tuesday night. He will take over Oct. 26 as its next president and CEO. Ford had announced earlier that he would retire from JTA in January after 13 years with the agency. Since he’s leaving sooner, he and JTA have begun revising the transition timeline, JTA officials said Wednesday. The JTA board will meet July 29 and could consider an interim replacement. Ford was on a short list of three finalists for the position in Dallas after the transit system board met a week ago. In a news release about Ford’s hiring, DART officials said he brings decades of executive leadership in public transportation. He offers “a proven record of organizational transformation, and a deep understanding that transit is about much more than buses and trains,” DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said in the release. Before becoming JTA’s CEO, Ford had leadership roles at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in Georgia. In his time at JTA, he built the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center in LaVilla and led an authority that completed 27 projects in a road and streets initiative two years ahead of schedule. But JTA also faces some opposition to proposed fare and service changes as part of its proposed 2026-2027 budget, which would begin Oct. 1. The base fare is proposed to increase from $1.75 to $2, the first fare increase since 2019. It would take effect Jan. 1. JTA is holding public meetings to gather feedback about the proposal. Separately, ridership is low on JTA’s NAVI service, which runs autonomous vehicles from LaVilla to the Sports and
Jul 22, 2026 · via jaxtoday.org
New Tesla FSD Capabilities Uncovered: Autonomous Driving Now Boasts a "User Model", Enabling Highly Personalized AI Drivers That Offer Unique Experiences for Every User. ChatGPT can remember your chat history, understand your expression habits, and even adjust its response style based on past interactions. Now, this kind of "memory capability" is stepping into the physical world. A single tweet from Elon Musk has revealed new ongoing changes in Tesla FSD: FSD is beginning to gain the capability of "personalized experiences for every user". From parking preferences, driving interventions, to long-term driving habits, FSD is attempting to memorize the distinct traits of each individual. It is evolving from "one AI serving all users" to "everyone having their own dedicated AI". Elon Musk Confirms: FSD Starts to Gain "Long-Term Memory" The story originates from two recent public replies made by Musk. The first one in June was related to parking habits. A user suggested that they hoped FSD could remember their parking patterns at fixed locations, such as where to park when arriving home or at the office. Musk responded: FSD will soon be able to remember users' parking preferences. The more recent reply is even more critical. Some users reported that FSD's driving decisions did not align with their personal habits in scenarios like lane selection and lane-change timing. Musk stated that future vehicles will record users' specific takeover behaviors and gradually match each individual's driving preferences. Essentially, these two replies point to the same core fact: FSD is evolving from handling one-off driving tasks to achieving long-term understanding of the driver. In the past, autonomous driving systems were designed for an abstract, generic user. No matter who sat in the driver's seat, the underlying model remained identical. It knew what kind of road was ahead, what other vehicles were nearby,
Jul 22, 2026 · via eu.36kr.com
Running empty? FMCSA to issue proposal for driverless trucks All the way back in May 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding commercial motor vehicles that are equipped with automated driving systems. So that we’re all on the same page, an advance notice isn’t a formal proposal. Instead, think of it as the tire-kicking or information-gathering stage. Basically, the agency seeks feedback to help it develop a proposal. In 2023, the agency determined that it needed even more feedback and published a second advance notice of proposed rulemaking. That brings us to the present, when FMCSA expects to unveil a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the “Motor Carrier Operation of ADS-Equipped Commercial Motor Vehicles.” “FMCSA proposes to amend certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to ensure the safe introduction of ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles onto the nation’s roadways,” the agency wrote in the regulatory agenda. “The proposed changes to the CMV operations, inspection, repair and maintenance regulations prioritize safety and security, promote innovation, foster a consistent regulatory approach to ADS-equipped CMVs and recognize the difference between human operators and ADS.” FMCSA is targeting August for the release of its proposal. Concerns voiced In 2023, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told FMCSA that autonomous trucks aren’t the “cure-all” some suggest. “While we are still years away from fully automated trucks, decisions made today will have a significant impact on the deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies, ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles, and ultimately, on the livelihood of professional truck drivers and the economy at large,” OOIDA wrote in 2023. “Elected officials, federal regulators and our industry partners must develop autonomous vehicle policies in a responsible manner that considers the perspective of American truckers.” Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called out all
Jul 22, 2026 · via landline.media
Why It Matters Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming an estimated 39,345 lives in 2024 alone, according to a 2026 Congressional Research Service report. As Congress grapples with regulating automated vehicles, a fundamental tension has emerged: the existing federal safety framework was built for human drivers, not self-driving car safety considerations. The question now is whether Congress should overhaul decades-old standards or allow the administration to modernize them through regulatory exemptions and voluntary frameworks that may or may not ensure public safety. The Big Picture Congress has tasked itself with determining whether current federal statutes and automotive safety standards are adequate for a vehicle future that could eliminate steering wheels, pedals, and human oversight entirely. The central friction is technical and regulatory: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were developed around human-driven vehicle designs, yet Level 4 autonomous vehicles without manual controls may struggle to comply with requirements. The Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a new framework April 24, 2025, explicitly prioritizing safety, innovation, and commercial deployment. That same framework included plans to let domestic noncommercial automated vehicle producers access exemptions similar to those available to foreign vehicle importers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced plans June 13, 2025 to make its exemption program more flexible, signaling the administration's intent to accelerate deployment pathways. NHTSA has proposed modernizing or adding exemptions for several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to accommodate driverless designs. The agency proposed a voluntary safety evaluation framework, the ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program, that would let companies opt in to safety assessments in exchange for regulatory exemptions. Since May 2025, lawmakers have advocated for several bills aimed at addressing autonomous vehicle safety standards, data reporting, consumer information, equipment restrictions, and advanced driver assistance system guidelines.
Jul 22, 2026 · via legis1.com
Tesla Robotaxi launches driverless ride service in Tampa TAMPA, Fla. - While driverless vehicles like Waymo have become a familiar sight across the country, Tesla is now entering the market locally with the official launch of its Robotaxi service in Tampa and Orlando. Tampa Tesla Robotaxi expansion By the numbers: According to recent survey data, only 5% of Americans have taken a ride in a driverless car so far, but Tesla's rollout marks a major step toward making autonomous ride-hailing more widespread. Courtesy: Tesla The current Tampa service area spans between 25 and 45 square miles, focused around downtown Tampa and extending into Ybor City, Tampa Heights, West Tampa and portions of East Tampa. It does not currently service South Tampa, Tampa International Airport or most suburban neighborhoods. In Orlando, the service area excludes major hubs like Orlando International (MCO) Airport, downtown Orlando, and theme parks such as Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. Driverless technology adoption Dig deeper: Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving differs significantly from competitor systems. While companies like Waymo use a combination of lidar, radar and sonar sensors, Tesla relies exclusively on cameras and AI software to navigate city streets. The company’s guiding philosophy is that if a human can navigate using their eyes, a vehicle should be able to do the same using visual camera inputs. Vehicles currently operating in the service fleet are Tesla Model Ys. Operations are subject to specific riding rules: - Booking and verification: Passengers must download the Robotaxi app, log into or create a Tesla account, enter a destination within the designated service area, and confirm the ride. Riders should verify the vehicle's license plate before entering. - Rider restrictions: Rides are booked exclusively for the account holder — ordering rides for others is not permitted. Children ages 8 to 17 may
Jul 22, 2026 · via fox13news.com
DART Names Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. President and CEO 7/22/2026 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) selected Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. to lead the agency as president and chief executive officer. DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said, “Ford brings a proven record of organizational transformation and a deep understanding that transit is about much more than buses and trains.” Ford most recently served as Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) chief executive officer for the past 13 years. JTA’s milestones under Ford’s leadership include developing the largest BRT network in the Southeastern U.S., supporting the passage of a tax extension generating $1 billion for regional infrastructure, implementing the first complete redesign of JTA’s transit system, and launching the nation’s first autonomous vehicle service in public transit. Mayor Donna Deegan called Ford a dedicated partner who helped move the City of Jacksonville forward. “Under Mr. Ford’s leadership, our transportation authority became not only a model for innovation, but a catalyst for economic growth, attracting new businesses and creating quality jobs that strengthened Jacksonville’s future,” she said. Ford is a nationally recognized transportation thought leader and has played key roles at APTA. He was APTA chair from 2017-2018 and sits on numerous APTA committees, including currently serving as chair of the Automated Vehicles Innovation Committee. He was also chair of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and served as U.S. policy board national ambassador for the International Association of Public Transport. In 2020, he was named APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager and, under his leadership, JTA won the 2016 APTA Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. Also in 2016, he was acknowledged as a White House Champion of Change in Transportation by USDOT. In 2024, he received the Transportation Research Board’s Sharon D. Banks Award for Humanitarian Leadership
Jul 22, 2026 · via aptapassengertransport.com
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Jul 22, 2026 · via sfchronicle.com
Stratolaunch Achieves Major Milestone: 10+ Successful Hypersonic Flights with Reusable, Fully Autonomous Talon-A Aircraft MOJAVE, Calif., July 21, 2026 -- Stratolaunch, a leading pure-play hypersonics company, proudly announces the completion of more than 10 successful hypersonic flights with its Talon-A, the first reusable, fully autonomous air-launched hypersonic aircraft. This milestone demonstrates Stratolaunch's position at the forefront of hypersonic innovation, enabling rapid, reliable and cost-effective access to the hypersonic regime for government and commercial customers, including the Department of War Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) program. A New Era in Hypersonic Testing The Talon-A is a fully autonomous, reusable testbed designed to accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies. Capable of reaching speeds exceeding MACH 5, Talon-A is air-launched from Stratolaunch's carrier fleet and operates with no onboard crew throughout its mission. After completing its high-speed flight profile, Talon-A returns safely, landing on a standard runway, for recovery refurbishment and reuse, dramatically reducing the turnaround time and cost per flight. Key Achievements: 10+ Consecutive Hypersonic Flights: Talon-A has now completed more than ten successful hypersonic missions, demonstrating superior reliability and performance in real-world conditions. Full Autonomy: Each Talon-A flight was conducted with no onboard crew and no human in the loop, showcasing the advanced autonomous systems that guide Talon-A from release to recovery. Rapid Reusability: Multiple flights have been performed with the same vehicle, validating Stratolaunch's approach to rapid refurbishment and redeployment. Comprehensive Data Collection: Each mission gathered vital data on aerodynamics, propulsion, thermal protection and advanced flight controls, accelerating customer research and development. Industry Impact Stratolaunch's achievement marks a potential turning point in hypersonic testing. Traditional hypersonic test methods are expensive, infrequent and often limited in scope. The Talon-A platform offers: Increased Flight Frequency: With two carrier aircraft and two Talon-A hypersonic aircraft, customers
Jul 22, 2026 · via theautochannel.com