Thursday 20 January 2022 - What's Happening in Battery Technology? Recent commercial developments to advanced and non-lithium batteries, various next generation batteries and analysis of their relative strengths and weaknesses, and the potential markets for the range of technologies being developed.

This milestone means the robots are able to operate routinely without human intervention, and can rely on their onboard capabilities to ensure safe operation. This industry first is the result of nearly five years of work by the Serve Robotics team and represents a major step forward for the autonomous vehicle industry, significantly lowering the barriers for autonomous delivery at scale.

Researchers have found a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries made from a common material: rubber.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest consumer electronics event in the world. The last in-person event was 2020 where more than 4,400 exhibitors and 180,000 attendees showcased the latest consumer tech innovations in Las Vegas. 2022 was a hybrid event, with in person talks as well as a digital platform. In this subscriber-only article, the IDTechEx mobility team covers mobility trends from the digital platform.

It is nearly impossible to live in the twenty-first century without electronics - the tiny component that plays a significant role in your laptop, smart phone, smart watch, Wi-Fi router, medical gadgets, and many other applications that shape the way we work and live.

The fluid colour changes are made possible by a specially developed body wrap that is tailored precisely to the contours of the all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle from BMW. When stimulated by electrical signals, the electrophoretic technology brings different colour pigments to the surface, causing the body skin to take on the desired colouration.

The world's first 'Sea-Air Integrated Drone' aims to modernize offshore and marine operations with its intelligent capabilities, high working efficiency, and minimized manpower required.

The mobility sector continues to see a rapid pace of change, enabled by technological leaps in the underlying componentry and materials, but there is still a long way to go. In this article Luke Gear, Principal Analyst at IDTechEx, explores six key future mobility trends, drawing from IDTechEx Subscription research.

Event held December 2nd and 3rd, 2021

Sony announced and exhibited an SUV-type prototype vehicle (VISION-S 02) as a new form factor. This vehicle uses the same EV/cloud platform as the prototype (VISION-S 01), which is being tested on public roads.

John Deere has revealed a fully autonomous tractor that's ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere's 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. The autonomous tractor will be available to farmers later this year.

IDTechEx expect to see growing regulatory pressure, with increased commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission and improving urban air quality, drive the electrification trend across all major on-road and off-road vehicle markets.

Commercial interest in silicon anodes and investments into start-up companies has continued through 2021 - IDTechEx estimates that $1.9B of funding has now made its way into silicon anode start-ups. Beyond investments, there has also been greater activity regarding companies beginning to license technologies, enter into supply relationships or commercialize technologies in early adopter markets, highlighting that the promise of silicon anode technology may soon be realized.

Range and efficiency are set to define the electric era. Exceptional range will make electric cars suitable for every journey and help to increase overall adoption. Reduced battery size and weight will improve efficiency and Mercedes-Benz engineers are working to take range and efficiency to a new level.

Researchers may have found a way to revitalize rechargeable lithium batteries, potentially boosting the range of electric vehicles and battery life in next-gen electronic devices.

IDTechEx predicts that SAE level 3 autonomous features, such as traffic jam pilot, will emerge in 2022 and become common in vehicles by 2042. How did IDTechEx predict this time scale? The answer lies in the historical adoption trends of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies.

China Yuchai International Limited's hydrogen-powered engine achieved stable ignition and operation in a recent demonstration at the Beijing Institute of Technology. The YCK05 engine is the first operating hydrogen engine for China's commercial vehicle market, the world's largest commercial vehicle market.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd announced the successful completion of proof-of-concept testing for unmanned cargo transport by cooperation of its unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft and delivery robot.

BYD's investment will help RoboSense engage more closely in the smart new energy vehicle industry ecology, laying a solid foundation for in-depth industry collaboration between the two companies.