Oct 12, 2018
The ISDA Secure Transportation and Executive Protection News Podcast for Friday, October 12th, 2018
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In Vehicle News
From the Verge
Mercedes-Benz wants to make the 2020 S-Class partially autonomous
Mercedes-Benz plans to debut its own semi-autonomous system on the refreshed S-Class sedan, due in the 2020 lineup, according to an Automotive News interview with the company’s head of research. The system will offer what the Society of Automotive Engineers refers to as “Level 3” autonomy, which means the car can drive itself in certain situations without any driver input, with the caveat that said driver needs to be ready to take over in case of an emergency.
This kind of driver assistance package would be on par with what Audi built into the 2019 A8. Audi’s system — called Traffic Jam Pilot — handles starts, stops, turns, and more while allowing the driver to take their eyes off the road. It would be a step ahead of other current Level 2 systems, like Tesla’s Autopilot or GM’s Super Cruise. (Though, Tesla has promised Autopilot will soon become more robust after the company’s latest software update recently rolled out.) And it would mark a significant leap forward from Mercedes-Benz’s existing driver assistance package, Drive Pilot, which received some not-so-favorable reviews.
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In Technology News
From NextGov
DHS Funds Airport Navigation App that Guides You from Check-in to Gate
The Homeland Security Department is investing in technology that helps air travelers navigate airport security and gives federal agents a direct line of communication with passengers.
The agency’s Science and Technology Directorate awarded a nearly $120,000 contract to LocusLabs to adapt their airport navigation application for Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The smartphone app would give passengers real-time location information and guide them from curb to gate using Google Maps-style directions. It would also let agencies immediately get in touch with everyone at the airport.
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And from the Verge
Google Translate can now visually translate 13 more languages
Starting this week, the Google Translate app will be capable of visually translating 13 new languages by using the camera on your smartphone, according to a report from VentureBeat.
In 2015, Google added the visual translation feature to the Translate app with the support of 27 different languages. It allows users to translate dinner menus and signs in real time, making communicating abroad much easier. This week’s announcement adds Punjabi, Bengali, Vietnamese, Thai, Gujarati, Kannada, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, putting the total number of supported languages close to 50.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/11/17965536/google-translate-visual-translation-13-languages-new
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In Executive Protection News
From BBC News
Mohammed Dewji: Africa's 'youngest billionaire' abducted in Tanzania
Mohammed Dewji, 43, was abducted outside a swanky hotel gym where he was going for his routine morning workout.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident and two of the abductors were believed to be foreign nationals, police added.
The motive for Mr. Dewji's abduction is still unclear.
Who is Mohammed Dewji?
Financial magazine Forbes puts his wealth at $1.5bn and has described him as Tanzania's only billionaire.
In a 2017 report, it said Mr. Dewji was Africa's youngest billionaire.
Dewji is also a major sponsor of one of Tanzania's biggest football teams, Simba.
Dewji, locally known as Mo, is credited with turning his family business from a wholesale and retail enterprise into a pan-African conglomerate, reports the BBC's Athuman Mtulya from Dar es Salaam.
His company, MeTL, has interests in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages, and edible oils in at least six African states.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45821361
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