Toronto, Ontario — In this weekly electric and autonomous vehicle report, Tesla’s Cybertruck gets its “Wade Mode” put to the test; while UberEats partners with Mitsubishi Electric and robotics company Cartken to begin transporting food using self-driving robots.
A cyber-swim
Taras Maksimuck of the Youtube channel TechRax recently drove his Cybertruck into deep water to test the “Wade Mode” ability.
According to Maksimuck’s channel, which tests different items in extreme conditions, the Cybertruck performed well when driven into deep water.
The Cybertruck has its “Wade Mode” feature for navigating shallow waters by raising the air suspension, and the battery is pressurized with assistance from the air suspension to help keep sensitive systems dry.
In his test, Maksimuck opted for fairly deep water, driving through a flooded area with only the vehicle’s top above water.
Lunch on the go
Uber announced last Tuesday that its UberEats business is partnering with Mitsubishi Electric and delivery robotics company Cartken to begin transporting food using self-driving robots in Japan.
The sidewalk robot deliveries are set to start by the end of March in a select area of Tokyo. UberEats said that Japan will be the first international site for its autonomous delivery operations, which so far have been limited to a few cities in the United States. Specifically, UberEats and Cartken already offer sidewalk robot deliveries in Miami, Florida and in Fairfax, Virginia.
Cartken’s Model C robot, which uses artificial intelligence to navigate its surroundings and can approach human walking speed, will make up the fleet of robot couriers in Japan.
“This collaboration signifies a leap forward in redefining the future of food delivery, making it more accessible and sustainable to consumers in Japan,” said Anjali Jindal Naik, Cartken’s co-founder and COO in a recent statement.
Mitsubishi Electric will supervise the operations, the companies further noted.
