Latest Updates in Autonomous Vehicle Sphere: Qualcomm, BMW, Waymo, Carteav, AEye, Flasheye, Pony.ai, Mowasalat, Valeo, Momenta, and NHTSA under the spotlight

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced plans to update decades-old Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to better accommodate vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS). The proposed changes aim to remove outdated requirements, streamline regulations, and create a single national standard to foster innovation while maintaining safety.

In a significant move, Qualcomm and BMW have unveiled the Snapdragon Ride Pilot, an advanced automated driving system. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon RideTM SoCs, the system supports automation levels from NCAP to Level 2+ highway and urban navigation. The Snapdragon Ride AD software stack integrates a 360-degree camera-based perception system, low-latency fusion of camera and radar data, advanced AI-driven behavior planning, and robust safety compliance with ASIL, SOTIF, and cybersecurity standards. The system powers advanced features such as contextual lane changes, hands-free highway driving, V2X-enabled collision avoidance, and intelligent parking assistance in BMW's Neue Klasse iX3.

Meanwhile, Valeo has signed a strategic long-term partnership with Momenta to jointly develop mid- to high-level Intelligent Assisted Driving and Autonomous Driving solutions. The collaboration aims to co-develop cutting-edge system-level solutions offering full lifecycle support.

Elsewhere, AEye and Flasheye have formed a strategic partnership, integrating real-time 3D perception software into AEye's OPTISTM lidar platform.

The Snapdragon Ride Pilot's validation has been carried out in over 60 countries and is planned to expand to 100+ by 2026. Pony AI, in partnership with Mowasalat, Qatar's largest transportation provider, is deploying autonomous vehicles on Doha's roads.

Waymo is set to launch its autonomous vehicle operations in Denver this fall, featuring a mixed fleet consisting of Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and Zeekr RT vehicles powered by the 5th-generation and 6th-generation Waymo Driver respectively.

Carteav has officially launched its autonomous low-speed electric vehicle service in Ramat Gan National Park, Israel's second-largest national park. The service offers a fixed-route shuttle with designated stops to improve accessibility for all visitors.

However, the path towards autonomous vehicles is not without its controversies. Attorney Amy Witherite has renewed her warning that autonomous 18-wheelers pose serious risks on U.S. highways without strict federal safety standards. Kerrisdale Capital labeled Aurora Innovation's model a "fantasy," predicting years of losses, while Bleecker Street Research questioned the company's highly publicized Dallas-to-Houston driverless route, calling it a "PR stunt."

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy emphasized that updating these standards is key to ensuring the U.S. leads in autonomous mobility innovation. The combined system, capable of detecting and analyzing objects in real time, is currently being deployed in airport safety, transportation logistics, and perimeter security.

While the search results do not explicitly list specific companies involved in autonomous truck development that have not yet conducted driverless test runs, it is known that companies like Daimler Truck (Mercedes-Benz) and Volvo Trucks actively develop autonomous and advanced connected truck technologies. Daimler conducts real-world fuel cell truck tests, and Mercedes-Benz has technology such as Drive Pilot for Level 3 autonomous driving already in limited use.

In conclusion, the landscape of automated driving systems is evolving rapidly, with numerous partnerships and developments taking place. As the NHTSA works towards updating federal safety standards, the future of autonomous vehicles appears promising, despite the challenges and controversies that lie ahead.