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Intel has acquired Itseez, an expert in computer vision algorithms and implementations for embedded and specialised hardware.

Itseez provides software tuning and integration in many market-leading products shipping from cars to security systems and other applications. The acquisition gives Intel an advantage in catering to IoT market segments like automotive and video, where the ability to electronically perceive and understand images makes way for innovation and positive prospects.

“Intel is...

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Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a pedestrian detection system for smart vehicles which can detect pedestrians in near real-time to help ensure the streets remain safe in the era of semi-autonomous and driverless cars.

Results we’re obtaining with this new algorithm are substantially better for...

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As manufacturers such as Ford seek ways to get ahead in the race towards self-driving cars, Toyota has boosted its own capabilities through acquiring a stake in Tokyo-based machine-learning specialists Preferred Networks. 

Preferred Networks was separated from...

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Microsoft will collaborate with Volvo Cars on the development of automotive technologies in a variety of areas.

The companies demonstrated the use of Microsoft HoloLens to improve the auto customer experience. The HoloLens technology has the potential to open new sales channels by allowing dealers to provide prospective customers with a car configurator on the road or at shopping malls.

Volvo Cars senior vice president of marketing sales and service Björn Annwall, said:...

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There’s an old joke about the elderly driver who’s never had an accident in their 60 years on the road – but they’ve seen hundreds of them. Is that ancient gag to be re-applied for self driving cars? Google has admitted that its autonomous cars had been in 11 minor traffic accidents over a six year period, yet was adamant their cars had not been the cause of the accident.

Chris Urmson, principal engineer and software lead for Google’s self-driving car...

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Driving can be one of the most unpredictable things, which makes the job of self-driving cars difficult. At CES in January, Nvidia announced their work on a computer that will "learn" the right and wrong decisions to make under various scenarios rather than attempting to rely on just pre-programmed situations.

We could've guessed such a complex system would come with a hefty price tag, and on...

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Driverless cars raise a diverse array of legal issues, one of which will almost certainly be the intellectual property (IP) rights that industry players create and assert to assist them in establishing their market position, and differentiating their products. The auto industry has always been a hotbed of IP disputes. The advent of driverless technologies could well lead to a spike in scuffles caused by jockeying for dominance in this new area, as well as the convergence of...

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Before driverless cars can be released into our complex environment, they need to achieve exceptional levels of safety. How close are we to making this happen?

Automation is old hat. Almost every new car built features some form of non-human control: ABS; cruise control; lane-changing warning systems; even semi-automatic control. In the latter case, the car is capable of following traffic, accelerating and braking, as well as keeping to the same lane, within a defined maximum...

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Connected cars are on the rise, this much is certain, but how fast the market will grow in the future is an area that is still up for discussion and one company has its own take on where the industry is headed.

By the year 2020, Business Insider Intelligence estimates that the market’s value will be $2.2 trillion thanks to the 220 million connected cars due to be be on the road by then, although connected services will only be used by consumers in 88 million of...

The development of driverless technology has gathered momentum along with claims that automation should bring with it improved road safety, fuel efficiency and ecological benefits. Leading automotive brands including Mercedes-Benz and Nissan are working on high profile driverless vehicles while Google’s much-discussed autonomous car project will see the search giant join the race to meet the demands of a potentially significant new market.

All the emerging driverless vehicles, including the Google car...