Product Innovation
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
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Tradiebot: New Collision Repair Training Software An Australian-based advanced soft- all over the planet, Tradiebot is suc- Simulators won’t replace inware company that develops immer- ceeding by helping people and or- structors and I-CAR probably isn’t sive technology solutions for training ganizations to perform a wide range going to hire robots to teach clasand informationwith delivery in theLedoux auto- of tasks―from applying primer to a ses―yet―but augmented reality is Gary motive and trade sectors has been fender all the way to plastic and me- here to stay because it’s effective getting rave reviews from students tal welding techniques. and easy to integrate into any traiand teachers worldwide. ning program. Tradiebot, founded three years Training on a virtual ago, develops cutting-edge systems system has proven to be using technology like augmented rehighly effective in many inality and virtualwith environments. Thedustries. Today, bus drivers Stacey Phillips can learn their routes via se systems are integrated seamlessly augmented reality systems, with automotive businesses such as so your kids won’t be late auto body shops, car rebuilders/custo school, and doctors now tomizers and large collision repair Students and trainees can learn collision repair techniques practice on virtual patients centers. from their smartphones and other personal devices while in order to improve their The company has partnered with using Tradiebot skills and techniques. some key industry players including with Anderson Beth Rutter, Tradiebot’s di- Tradiebot can provide training universities, schools andMike government bodies to develop industrial innovati- rector of industry and customer en- for anyone who works in an auto on and digital transformation through gagement, North America, can see body shop, but currently its main foits training platforms. a future where schools or training cus is developing virtual reality pro With an enormous need for new facilities rely almost exclusively on grams to train entry-level refinish technicians, as well as augmented talent in the collision repair industry immersive training.
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Product Innovation
From the Desk of Mike Anderson
Tesla, Volvo Among 5 Carmakers Under NHTSA Investigation for ADAS Crashes by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Tesla, Volvo, Cadillac, Lexus and Navya are five car companies under investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for crashes that occurred while Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) were activated, the agency said. The NHTSA released a list of 36 total accidents that occurred in the U.S., dating back as far as June 2016. Of the 36 accidents, 30 involve Tesla vehicles. Not all of the Teslas listed were using Autopilot, however. Three of the Tesla cases listed are described as “Electric Vehicle-Not in Autopilot,” according to the list the NHTSA provided to Teslarati. Additionally, one incident hasn’t been confirmed as to whether or not a Tesla Model S used Autopilot at the time of its crash. Five accidents are listed as “More Over Law Special Study,” while one is listed as “Heavy Truck Underride.” The NHTSA did not provide a statement.
Tesla’s Autopilot systems, despite being proven through statistics to make vehicles nearly 10 times less likely to be involved in an accident compared to a human driver, are still widely considered controversial by many who have not experienced the system. Autopilot is not fully autonomous, and Tesla has never claimed its vehicles should be operated without the driver paying attention to road conditions or surroundings. However, the company has implemented several safety features to ensure drivers are paying attention during the use of Autopilot or the Full Self-Driving suite. On the list are several notable recent accidents, including the Model S crash in Texas in April that killed two after catching fire. The NHTSA already performed a preliminary investigation on the accident and determined Autosteer could not have be engaged where the accident took place. The NHTSA said: “The vehicle was equipped with Autopilot, Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system. Using
32 AUGUST 2021 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
Autopilot requires both the Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and the Autosteer systems to be engaged. Two NTSB tests of an exemplar car at the crash location showed that Traffic-Aware Cruise Control could be engaged but that Autosteer was not available on that part of the road.” Another accident, listed as “Heavy Truck Underride,” involved a Model Y in Detroit. Despite the local police department stating reckless driving was the likely cause of the crash, the NHTSA is still investigating the accident. Volvo is among the other manufacturers on the list, with a March 2017 and a March 2018 accident involving its XC90. The 2017 accident resulted in minor injuries, while the 2018 incident was fatal to the passenger. The XC90 was using ADAS during both accidents, the NHTSA chart says. The Lexus RH450H, the Cadillac CT6, listed twice, and the Navya Arma were also all listed with ADAS case types, but all of these vehicles had no injuries due to the accidents.
reality technical information systems and a robotic 3D printing headlight Repairbot. As the world enters the age of electric vehicles, Tradiebot is prepared to be on the cutting edge when it comes to all of the associated training that will be required. “We can use virtual training for anything you can imagine, and with all of the processes associated with EVs, our solutions are ideal,” Rutter said. “We can train someone in every aspect of this industry, including auto diagnostics, estimating, aluminum repair, plastic welding and OE repair procedure, in some cases. Our systems work especially well when techs are trained for repetitive tasks.” A 2019 study on the use of virtual reality (VR) training for soft skills by professional services from See Collision Repair Training, Page 44
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