Industry

Nissan expands AI robots at U.S. Smyrna plant, shifting parts hauling work handled by 64 workers

Nissan is expanding automation of parts transport at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant by deploying AI-based autonomous mobile robots. The project, described as the plant’s largest cost-cutting task this year, would replace work now handled by 64 forklift and tugger drivers. Robots from OTTO, a Rockwell Automation unit, use lidar, cameras and sensors to navigate and adjust schedules in real time. Nissan plans to phase deployment in six steps, keep backup systems, and reassign affected workers.

Mobility

Tesla begins public passenger rides of Cybercab in Austin; will Musk\'s self-driving strategy succeed

Tesla is starting public passenger rides of its dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab, in Austin, Texas. The two-seat vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals and uses a modified version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software operated without an onboard driver, with remote intervention for anomalies. The rollout tests CEO Elon Musk’s long-held camera-focused approach. The company faces ongoing safety questions, potential shifts in liability and regulatory barriers to broader commercialization.