You have twenty seconds to comply: meet the self-driving ‘Robocar' you can buy
Built by *Tensor*, not that other company, and it's available for private purchase Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading
We could simply spend 250 words trotting out lines from RoboCop , but as fun as that might be, this one's quite simple: it's a new self-driving car dubbed 'Robocar' from a Californian company called Tensor.
Obviously you'd buy that for a dollar, but we suspect it's a bit pricier. The key however, is that you can actually buy it – Tensor's offering it up for private consumption. It's apparently been designed and built from scratch precisely for autonomous driving, not a hacked existing platform.
Advertisement - Page continues below
As such, Tensor claims more than 100 sensors on board the Robocar, all geared up for Level 4 autonomy: cameras, lidar, radar, microphone, ultrasonic, heck, even smoke detectors. Will it protect the innocent, serve the public trust and uphold the law? You'd certainly hope so.
Naturally, the entire thing is powered by AI, not a gunned-down Detroit police officer's brain, and because it's powered by AI, it can apparently perform its own checks and even maintain itself. Its makers claim you can even talk to it and have 'conversational interaction'. Probably about TJ Lazer. You might like
There's little details about the actual chassis and propulsion bits, but we do know it uses chips from Nvidia, will be built by VinFast (remember them?) in Vietnam, and offered in the US, Europe and the UAE. More as we get it.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
Ryan Preece earns pole for NASCAR's Cook Out 400
August 16 - RICHMOND, Va. -- Ryan Preece delivered in the clutch, claiming the second pole position of his career Friday afternoon at Richmond (Va.) Raceway as he tries to earn a playoff position with only two regular-season races remaining before the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series championship field is set. It's certainly a good omen for Preece heading into Saturday night's Cook Out 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at the three-quarter mile track. His No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford Mustang turned a fast lap of 121.381 mph, edging 23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick by .087 of a second. The 34-year-old Connecticut native Preece last earned the pole in 2023 at another Virginia short track, Martinsville Speedway. "I felt like it was on my bingo card, I'm not sure about everybody else's," said a smiling Preece, who trails RFK teammate Chris Buescher by 34 points for the final playoff points position. "That Ford Mustang was really sporty. I felt good about it in practice and it showed up for qualifying. We have a great starting spot and tomorrow we've just got to go execute and hopefully we can win this race." "At a place like this I would rather be out front. ... I'd rather be the one leading. Tomorrow is about getting out front, getting the clean air and setting my pace." It was also a particularly good day for the small Kaulig Racing team, whose veteran driver A.J. Allmendinger qualified third-fastest for his best career start at the track. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, a Virginia native and hometown favorite, will roll off fourth. Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott rounds out the top five. Among those contending for the final three playoff positions, Reddick needs to earn just 30 points Saturday night to finalize his spot. Hendrick Motorsports' Alex Bowman, who holds a 60-point advantage inside the standings, will start ninth. Buescher, in the 16th and final playoff points position, qualified 12th. Thirteen drivers have claimed Playoff positions with victories this season. A new race winner this week at Richmond or next week in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway would leap over Reddick, Bowman and Buescher in the playoff eligibility. Hendrick Motorsports' William Byron, the NASCAR Cup Series championship leader, qualified 14th. He holds a 42-point advantage on his teammate Elliott for the regular- season championship and the 15 bonus points that pays following the Daytona race. Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon, the defending race winner, will start 11th. Teammate Kyle Busch, a six-time winner at Richmond, will roll off 28th. Three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano will start 38th. --Field Level Media
The Guardian
31 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Return of the flip phone: does Apple's foldable iPhone signal a new era in design?
Back in 2005, nothing felt more high-powered and sophisticated than ending a call by snapping shut a clamshell flip phone. Now, two decades since they hit peak popularity, they're back – with Apple rumoured to be working on its first ever flip phone. Little is known about how it will look. It could resemble Samsung's Flip design – closer to a 2000s-style clamshell phone – or its Fold, more like a foldable iPad. A JPMorgan report has suggested that the first foldable iPhone will be revealed in September 2026, priced at $1,999 (£1,474), and will likely expand a foldable phone market expected to reach 19m units in 2025. The rectangular tablet has been a mainstay of phone design for the last 15 years, but could Apple betting on the flip phone be a sign that's about to change? Tech experts said the new product launch probably reflected the fact that people now mostly access the internet on their phones, rather than laptops or tablets, and are looking for a device that optimises that experience – but the high price point suggests it will remain a premium product. 'Apple and all other smartphone makers are somewhat stymied by the fact the smartphone has become somewhat of a boring category – it's absolutely essential in people's daily lives, but it no longer has the excitement of the next big thing,' said Ben Wood, an analyst at the tech consultancy CCS Insight. This is why Apple has been reaching for new designs that can get people talking – for example, the ultra-thin iPhone, expected to be launched in September. Wood thinks Apple is entering the foldable market because other companies have experimented first. Samsung's initial Galaxy Fold designs were bedevilled by screen problems, but next week's Galaxy Flip and Fold 7 triple release, featuring slimmer designs and bigger screens, is expected to represent the 'next generation' of foldable phones, which Samsung will be hoping reverses the flatlining sales in 2024. 'Apple is rarely first to anything – it's not typically a company that dives in with both feet – it likes to take its time, see how it can refine and optimise it, and deliver the best, most reliable experience, then it jumps,' Wood said. He noted that Samsung's flip phone has been more popular than the fold model 'because it's cheaper and has captured imagination of the population who like the idea of having something different from everyone else'. Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion But he thinks that Apple producing a foldable mini-tablet has the most potential to 'move the needle' by giving people the opportunity to unfold a larger screen where they can easily watch videos, show off photos and browse documents when working remotely. Margarita Panayiotou, a tech researcher at the University of Manchester, said academic research had identified that people prefer bigger screens for browsing and gaming. This, combined with the fact that young people, especially, tend to use smartphones to go online, suggests that the foldable design could offer an ideal compromise for future consumers. Prof Ben Carter, who researches how smartphones impact our lives at King's College London, agreed that video watching was 'one of the wins' for foldable phones, especially since videos constitute a growing proportion of the content that people consume. Foldable phones can have larger screens and can also be propped up for easier viewing. He thought there could be mental health benefits to a design resembling a 'mini-laptop that you can close down'. His research shows that disabling notifications is highly effective in reducing screen time and tackling smartphone addiction. If the screen is not visible, it removes the 'variable reward scheme' – the same process by which gambling addiction works, whereby not knowing when you will receive a reward makes something more compelling. 'If you can switch it off, more like a laptop, that distraction has gone,' he said, though he noted there waws not yet evidence that people are using foldable phones in this way. This might be especially beneficial for children, who receive on average more than 200 notifications a day – though the high price point of foldable phones makes it unlikely that many will have access to them until their parents pass on secondhand models several years after launch. Prof David Ellis, the chair of behavioural science at the University of Bath, said that other draws include the fact that screens are better protected and fit into a smaller pocket, as well as the 'sense of nostalgia that comes with a flip phone'. But he added that it might not be the gamechanger people are expecting: Apple doesn't have a '100% success rate – the Vision Pro [headset] has been a spectacular failure'.
Auto Blog
40 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
High-Performance Silverado, Tahoe, and Escalade Packages to Hit Dealers Soon
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Stellantis has finally shown what a midsize Ram Dakota might look like—but this one's not for the U.S. For the first time in North America, BMW will display Andy Warhol's 1979 M1 Art Car and Julie Mehretu's M Hybrid V8 Art Car side-by-side at Monterey Car Week. The announcement from Honda's luxury brand is a shift from its prior commitment to EVs made in 2021. Partnership Will Focus On Full-Size Trucks Holley, a prominent manufacturer of speed parts like its ubiquitous carburetors, and Callaway Cars, best known for its modified Corvettes, are teaming up to 'develop and launch a line of performance packages for GM trucks and SUVs,' the companies said in a press release. Holley and Callaway didn't say when the first of these performance packages would be available, though. The partnership will combine Callaway's engineering expertise with Holley's sales and marketing infrastructure to 'reach even more enthusiasts with turnkey, dealer-approved solutions,' the release said. The 'dealer-approved' part is key, as being able to buy these performance packages through dealerships—perhaps already installed on a new vehicle—will streamline things significantly for car buyers. Plans Cover Multiple GM Brands Source: GMC By providing your email address, you agree that it may be used pursuant to Arena Group's Privacy Policy. We may receive compensation. Performance packages will be offered for full-size pickups and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban, the GMC Sierra and Yukon, and the Cadillac Escalade, as well as the Corvette. That's pretty similar to the range of models Callaway already covers with its performance upgrades. Multiple versions will be available at different prices, 'up to premium-level Pinnacle versions,' the release said, but without any details on what content would be included. In addition to tie-ins with dealerships, the two companies plan to offer direct-to-consumer sales, with Callaway handling the former and Holley handling the latter. Building Up The Callaway Brand Source: Cadillac By leveraging Holley's corporate footprint, the partnership could put the Callaway name in front of more eyeballs. Founded in 1977, Callaway Cars was founded by Reeves Callaway, the son of the founder of the Callaway Golf brand. The Connecticut-based company initially focused on BMW and a handful of other brands, but has become most famous as a prolific modifier of Corvettes, with standouts like the 254-mph SledgeHammer and the AeroWagon shooting brake. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Even with the expanded focus on trucks and SUVs, Callaway will remain committed to the Corvette. A new Callaway Performance Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will expand the company's operations in the 'Vette's hometown, allowing it to 'increase production capacity and enable broader availability of dealer-backed solutions for customers.' While it's a venerable name in the automotive aftermarket, Callaway faces plenty of competition from the likes Shelby and Hennessey when it comes to turnkey performance upgrades for modern Detroit Three machinery. This partnership with Holley could give Callaway a boost—and give customers more options for vehicle modifications. About the Author Stephen Edelstein View Profile
