Faraday Future poaches Apple mapping talent

Weighing in

Hi there,

This week Google’s self-driving car project’s collective odometer passed two million autonomous miles, a relatively modest milestone that nevertheless highlights the steady progression of auto tech in recent years.

As self-driving vehicle programs proliferate, so have the opinions surrounding them. General optimism is balanced by divergences on timeframes, commercialization strategies, and the safest path to full autonomy.

To understand sentiment on the future of auto tech, we compiled 15 perspectives from tech VCs and angels to industry executives and regulators. 

Clearpath Robotics and 47 other warehousing startups

Yesterday, the Canada-based Clearpath Robotics raised a $30M Series B to scale up production of its warehouse robots, which automate the hauling of pallets and heavy loads through warehouses and distribution centers.

Clearpath’s OTTO robots (not to be confused with the trucking startup purchased by Uber) may not be roadgoing vehicles, but still utilize LiDAR to avoid obstacles as well as computer vision to interpret and react to signs.

Besides their obvious use cases in warehouses, these robots are already helping manufacturers streamline factory operations. Automakers are using the vehicles for just-in-time part delivery to manufacturing lines (aka lineside delivery).

Clearpath competes with a number of other robotics companies, and other tech startups transforming warehousing with novel hardware and software. Check out our full market map of private warehousing startups below.

Have a great rest of the week, everybody.

Kerry
@kerrygwu