California sets out regulations to testing light duty autonomous trucks

California would allow testing of light-duty autonomous trucks on public roads under a rule announced last Friday. The California Department of Motor Vehicles outlines a permitting process for any companies wanting to test or deploy driverless trucks.

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Only certain lighter trucks would be eligible

The regulations governing autonomous vehicles in California can be found here. The announcement of the proposed regulationssays in part the following: "The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) released proposed regulations today that establish a path for companies to test or deploy light-duty autonomous motor trucks (delivery vehicles) on the state’s public roads. The release of these regulations marks the start of a 45-day public comment period, which ends May 27, 2019.Under the proposed regulations, companies can test autonomous delivery vehicles weighing less than 10,001 pounds with an approved permit from the DMV – provided they do not charge a delivery fee. Companies must apply for a deployment (public use) permit to make their autonomous technology commercially available. The DMV’s regulations continue to exclude the testing or deployment of autonomous vehicles weighing more than 10,001 pounds."

The regulations cover only Class 1 and 2 trucks which would include minivans, pickup trucks utility vans and step vans. However, autonomous vehicles in Class 3 through 8 are not allowed to test or deploy under the regulations. These would include walk-in delivery vans, semi-trucks, buses, or heavy-duty construction trucks.

California allows considerable autonomous vehicle testing

Since California has many autonomous vehicle testing programs, big companies such as General Motors, Waymo, and Uber, who are all in the process of development of autonomous vehicles, closely monitor any proposed new rules. California at present has 62 companies and 678 vehicles licensed through the DMV. However, Waymo is the only company so far that has a permit that allows it to test fully autonomous cars with no driver on public roads.

The new rules may be a step towards allowing vehicles such as heavy duty semi trucks (Class 8) to be tested on public roads. At present, Waymo is carrying out such tests in Atlanta Georgia. Other companies are also working on fully autonomous trucks such as Daimler, and TuSimple. Ford, Nuro, and Udeiv which are already permitted to test driverless vehicles under the DMV program will now be able to test light trucks as well.

.Previously  published in Digital Journal

Qualcomm to cut 1,500 jobs, mostly in California, to cut costs

Qalcomm, the big chip maker for smart phones, has already begun to cut jobs in California. The move appears to be part of a much larger workforce reduction plan that is designed to meet a commitment made to investors to cut $1 billion in costs.

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Most job cuts will be in California

However, one person said that some jobs will be eliminated in other areas as well. In an emailed statement the company confirmed that it was reducing both full time and temporary workers but they did not specify the exact numbers or locations.

In the statement the company said:“We first evaluated non-headcount expense reductions, but we concluded that a workforce reduction is needed to support long-term growth and success, which will ultimately benefit all our stakeholders.” Severance pay will be offered to those affected.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm is a US-based multinational corporation producing semiconductor and telecommunications equipment. It designs and markets wireless communications products and services. It derives the largest part of its revenue from making chips and much of its profits come from patent licencing. Although it has headquarters in San Diego California it has 224 locations throughout the world. Their website is here. It had 33,800 employees as of 2017.

The promise to investors

In January, Qualcomm promised that it would cut $1 billion in expenses so as to improve earnings. This was part of the efforts of the company to block a hostile takeover bid from its rival Broadcom INc. Although shareholders were set to accept the offer and ignore the promise, the Trump administration stopped the deal on the grounds that it would pose a national security risk. However, the company is still expected to live up to its promise of savings.

Dismal sales and earlier cuts

Qualcomm's sales fell every year since 2015. In fiscal 2018 they are expected to decline by 3 percent.

In 2015 in response to pressure from an activist investor Qualcomm restructured resulting in thousands of workers being laid off.

The precise numbers of the latest reduction should be made clear within the next few days as the company must file Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications. Companies are required to file these so-called Warn notices when they let go of 50 or more employees within a 30 day period.

This January Qualcomm was fined $1.2 billion by the European Union for violating anti-trust laws in deals it made with Apple.

Previously published in Digital Journal

California and Arizona compete to attract tests of autonomous vehicles

Both Arizona and California appear anxious to allow fully autonomous cars to be tested on their public roads as both have issued orders allowing such tests.

Arizona's regulations

Waymo, a Google-owned autonomous car developer is already showcasing its driverless Pacifica minivans as reported in a recent Digital Journal article.

On Thursday Arizona governor Doug Ducey issued a new executive order making what is already happening official, allowing fully autonomous cars to operate on public roads with no safety driver. The vehicles must follow all existing traffic laws and rules for cars and drivers.

Ducey initially issued his order in 2015, and since then, Uber, Waymo, General Motors and Intel have been testing self-driving cars on public roads in Arizona. Waymo even does so with no driver behind the wheel of the robot cars. Waymo hopes to start its ride-sharing operation this year.

Ducey said: “As technology advances, our policies and priorities must adapt to remain competitive in today’s economy. This executive order embraces new technologies by creating an environment that supports autonomous vehicle innovation and maintains a focus on public safety.”

There are already 600 self-driving cars operating on public roads in Arizona. Not only Waymo is testing the cars but Intel as well. Also, Uber and GM are testing their cars near Scottsdale. The white minivans are a common site in Chandler and also in Phoenix. Uber's grey SUV's can be seen around Arizona State University. GM's white cars are mostly seen around south Scottsdale.

Kevin Beisty, deputy director for policy at the Arizona Department of Transportation said at a public forum that Arizona prided itself as "being part of the innovation and trying to stay out of the way of innovation".

California allows testing as well

The Ducey announcement comes just a few days after California announced that it would let fully autonomous vehicles on public roads in April. Previous tests on public roads required a safety driver be in all cars.

Arizona regulations are fewer than those of California. In California testers are required to get a permit, and must submit annual reports on software disengagements. In contrast Arizona requires no public disclosures of these.

Uber had an argument with California over its regulations last year which prompted them to move their tests to Arizona

Previously published in Digital Journal

Calfornia to allow testing of autonomous vehicles with no safety driver

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in California USA announced last Monday that it has established new rules that will allow those working on autonomous vehicles to begin trials with no safety driver at the wheel.

The new regulations go into effect on April 2. A public notice will go up on March 2nd on the DMV website. Companies can apply for three types of permits: testing with a safety driver, driverless testing, and deployment.

Earlier rules required a trained safety driver be in the vehicle

While the California Department of Motor Vehicles already allowed testing of autonomous vehicles on roads, the vehicles always had to have a safety driver behind the wheel ready at all times to take over manual control if something went wrong. The new rules represent an important step to finally allowing self-driving vehicles to be used commercially.

The new rules still have provisions that will allow control of the vehicle if there is any kind of trouble. There must be a dedicated communications channel connecting the car to a remote operator who can take control if there is a problem. The car's communication system must be protected against cyber attacks.

Any company wishing to test a vehicle will need to get a permit from the DMV. The new rules only apply to consumer passenger vehicles not vehicles such as the new Tesla semi trucks.

GM and Alphabet should welcome new regulations

GM's Cruise and Alphabet's Waymo will likely welcome the news. Waymo is already testing an autonomous version of the Chrysler Pacifica in Arizona. Cruise has recently shown off its autonomous vehicle a modified version of Bolt but with no steering wheel and no pedals for brakes and no accelerator. GM Is hoping to have the cars available by 2019. Tests are being carried out in San Francisco.

Director, Jean Shiomoto of the California DMV said: “This is a major step forward for autonomous technology in California. Safety is our top concern and we are ready to begin working with manufacturers that are prepared to test fully driverless vehicles in California."

The Federal Self Drive Act

The US House or Representatives has already passed the Self Drive Act which cleared the house unanimously and now goes to the Senate. Although the bill could if passed accelerate the roll-out of the autonomous vehicles there are concerns that it could also conflict with some state legislation. It would be the first national legislation governing the vehicles. The bill would not allow states to pass legislation that the auto industry considers restrictive.

Previously published in Digital Journal

In contrast to most developed countries maternal mortality rates are rising in the U.S.

The rate of women dying from complications resulting from pregnancy or childbirth rose by 27 percent from 2000 to 2014. This increase is in contrast to other developed countries.

A study to be published this September in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that 157 other countries reported a decrease in their maternal mortality rates. Maternal mortality is defined as a death while pregnant or within 42 days afterward due to causes related to the pregnancy.

The study covered 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The study encountered difficulties gathering data as the United States stopped publishing official data on maternal mortality rates in 2007. The researchers described the lack of comprehensive data on maternal mortality as an "international embarrassment". The lead researcher, pointed to a lack of funding as a reason for delays in compiling the data but the report was clear: "There is a need to redouble efforts to prevent maternal deaths and improve maternity care for the 4 million U.S. women giving birth each year."

Texas showed the most surprising increases. From 2006 to 2010 the rate was about 18 deaths per 100,000 births but in 2011 the rate increased to 33 and then to 35.8 in 2014. While the reasons for the sudden increase are not known they may be due in part to changes in women's health care within the system such as the closing of several women's health clinics.

In September of 2011 the state family planning budget was cut by fully two-thirds. Clinics providing abortion services were not funded. In 2013 an anti-abortion bill also restricted funding that caused many clinics to close.

One of the UN Millennium Development Goals was to cut the maternal mortality rate by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. The rate has been cut by about half, with 157 of 183 nations reporting decreases. From 2000 to 2014 in the United States the rate rose from 18.8 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 25.8 in 2014. The only state without an increase was California. Of 31 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development the U.S. ranked 30th in maternal mortality rates, beating out only Mexico.

California has made strenuous efforts to reduce it maternal mortality rates. In 2006 it carried out a statewide review of pregnancy-associated mortality. It also contracted with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative to investigate the causes of maternal death. The result was to develop tool kits to prevent two of the most causes of maternal death and also measures to improve care quality throughout the state.

California public universities more expensive than Harvard

According to this article in the Huffington Post it is quite a bit cheaper to attend Harvard or Yale the big Ivy League schools than to attend a public university in California.

A family of 4 with parents a high school student and a 14 year old who make 130 k a year and receiving typical financial aid would pay about $17,000 for total expenses at Harvard. At Cal State they would pay 24,000 and at U of California at Santa Cruz about 33,000. Berkeley is a bit cheaper at about 19,500. Of course it is probably more difficult to get in to Berkeley and also to get into Harvard or Yale.

Dean Kulju of financial aid director of the California State System notes that tuition fees have doubled since 2007. Students have protested a number of times about the changes. However bonds issued by the system were well received. Even though funding is decreasing analysts remarked that the system could always gain revenue by increasing fees!

In 2011-2012 cuts the public universities lost more than one billion dollars in support from the state. Another 300 million is to be cut also as revenues are lower than projected.

Since 2009, public universities in the state have lost $2 billion and community colleges have had $695 million cut from their budgets. For more see the full article here. Perhaps California will become the largest exporter of university students in the U.S.