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4 Key milestones have been achieved for autonomous systems during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, UAVs are poised to be approved for use in delivering medical supplies (see pages 22 and 44). But there is still a widely held view that autonomous ground vehicles operating at Levels 4 and 5 remain many years away from use, which does the development of the technology an injustice. For example, AutoX is already operating a fleet of 100 autonomous taxis in Shanghai. It removed safety drivers from its vehicles in 2017, allowing L4 and L5 operation. Chinese operator Didi Chuxing also has a fleet of fully autonomous hire vehicles operating in the city. The supporting infrastructure has had to be developed as well. In this case that includes both operators using a central control centre to enable remote operation of the vehicles if there are problems. The supply of the technology is also changing. Fiat/Chrysler is an investor in AutoX and provides the vehicles for its service, which is rolling out to four other Chinese cities. Next year will see Fiat/Chrysler combine with the PSA Group, which builds the Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall/Opel cars, to create a vehicle giant called Stellantis. It looks well-positioned to dominate the supply of autonomous vehicles. As we have seen with the rapid approval of Covid-19 vaccines, regulation can be speeded. This urge to speed up regulation is accelerating the global roll-out of autonomous services for medical deliveries. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Speed with safety Intro | December/January 2021 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Deputy Editor Rory Jackson Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Production Editor Guy Richards Contributor Peter Donaldson Technical Consultants Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson Design Andrew Metcalfe [email protected] UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Freya Williams [email protected] Subscriptions Frankie Robins [email protected] Publishing Director Simon Moss [email protected] General Manager Chris Perry Read all back issues online www.ust-media.com UST 35 :DEC/JAN 2021 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Commanding view How motor controllers are evolving The way ahead What’s driving advances in image sensors? Access all areas Wings For Aid MiniFreighter drops emergency supplies into remote regions – here’s how it does it Volume Seven | Issue One December/January 2021 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – £90 USA – £93.75; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – £162 USA – £168.75; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro) ALSO FROM HPM THE COMMUNICATIONS HUBOF THE RACING POWERTRAINWORLD ROBFLYNN: Taming12,000bhp www.highpowermedia.com FORD’SDISRUPTIVEV8 TonyStewart shakes upSprintCar NEXT-GENERATION COMPONENTS Additivemanufacturing for race engines SPARKSFLY AT200MPH The challenge of electric drag racing NOVEMBER 2020 UK £15,USA$25,EUROPE e 22 THE COMMUNICATIONS HUBOF THE RACING POWERTRAINWORLD JUNE/JULY 2019 , , ROMANOALBESIANO: Aprilia’sGrandPrixquest www.highpowermedia.com THEHEMIREBORN Noonan’s revolution TRANSIENT CONDITIONS Focus on hi-tech dynos THENEXT AVENUE Electrification in racing ISSUE008 | WINTER2020 UK£15 USA$30 EUROPE€22 E-MOBILITY ENGINEERING THE COMMUNICATIONS HUB OF THE ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAIN Concrete promise Weporeover thepowertrains inLiebherrGroup’sseriesof PHEVcement trucks Performancereview Hottopic Latest techniques for testingbatterycells Options for thermal management December/January 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology 2021 advertising Limited opportunities within the pages of UST magazine are available for advertisers wishing to raise awareness of their unmanned/autonomous related products and services in 2021. Simon Moss will continue to look after all current and previous advertisers via the ‘right of first refusal (ROFR)’ scheme – www.ust-rofr.com . For all new enquiries and a copy of our 2021 media kit please contact Freya Williams at [email protected]