TRANSPORTATION

A Real Test for Delivery Machines

Human-to-human contact is canceled, but people still need food, medication, and other essential items. Delivery companies are plugging the gap, but not without risk to their employees and contracted gig workers.

What about delivery machines that can't get sick? Investors have sunk tens of billions into last-mile bots, autonomous vehicles, and drone networks. Let's see where they're at now. 

On the ground

Most self-driving companies have suspended operations. But at least two haven't, and it's no coincidence they operate what are considered essential delivery services. 

In Houston, self-driving startup Nuro is still delivering groceries in partnership with Kroger. Autonomous delivery "can benefit communities, making it easier for people to get food and other things they need," Nuro told me. 

• It recently received the greenlight from U.S. safety officials to deploy up to 5,000 of its forthcoming R2 vehicles.  

TuSimple's autonomous trucks are running commercial cargo trips in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. The startup is providing pro bono services to the Arizona Food Bank and has over 18 commercial partners, including UPS and USPS. TuSimple wouldn't say who's actively shipping besides food supply chain company McClane.

"We see a need to move this technology forward, stand behind our beliefs, and keep the trucks rolling," TuSimple Chief Product Officer Chuck Price told me. At any point, he said roughly half of TuSimple's fleet of 40 trucks are on the road (including nighttime). Non-essential personnel are working remotely, while trucks crewed by a safety driver and engineer have alcohol wipes, gloves, and masks. 

• Yesterday, TuSimple also announced it will commercialize robo-big rig tech with auto supplier ZF.

Drones time to shine?

In Africa, Zipline runs the world's largest drone delivery network, with over 1 million autonomous miles flown and 60,000+ vaccine, medicine, and blood delivery drops. Zipline wants to help in the U.S. "and could be ready to hit the ground within weeks of getting the greenlight," spokesman Justin Hamilton told me. 

Fresh off 100,000 flights and 6,000 customer drop-offs, Alphabet's drone unit Wing told me it's still running delivery services in Virginia and Australia. It's in talks with U.S. authorities "to determine if there is any support we can provide." 

Drone delivery networks offer efficient logistics and an on-demand inventory system in rural areas. In healthcare, these flight logs can serve as an early warning system for potential outbreaks. 

• So could more drones take flight? "We have received inquiries about expanded drone operations to respond to COVID-19," the FAA told me. It's still using the "existing certification process." 

Bottom line: Though humans complete virtually every U.S. delivery, these fledgling tech companies have an opportunity to show their services can help strained supply chains. This is when it counts. 

SUPPLY CHAIN

Tech Production Across the World

Just as manufacturing around the world is shutting down, China's biggest firms are kickstarting operations.

Huawei is prioritizing its 5G base station business, Nikkei reports, and CEO Ren Zhengfei tells SCMP the company is "racing" to develop new technologies. Yesterday, the tech giant unveiled a new 5G flagship phone. 

• But...the phone won't have any Google services, thanks to U.S. trade restrictions. Because of that, Huawei has slashed 2020 smartphone shipment projections by around 20%. 

Tencent launched a Zoom competitor for overseas markets. And ByteDance is still building its empire as TikTok engagement continues to climb.  

But activity is slowing down big time everywhere else: 

• In India, where 1.3+ billion are under lockdown, the major smartphone manufacturers have suspended operations. 
• In Japan, Toyota will pause production at five plants next month. 
• In the U.S., Apple may postpone its 5G iPhone launch by months, Nikkei reports. 

Keep in mind: All the countries currently in shutdown mode are consumer markets for made-in-China hardware, so business won't be back to usual for anyone soon.   

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HARDWARE

Can You Hear Me Now?

AirPods are a very good product, partially thanks to Apple creating its own audio processor. 

Qualcomm wants AirPods competitors to also be very good. Yesterday, the California chipmaker announced new audio tech that bundles all the features audiophiles know and love. 

The entry-level and premium bluetooth chips support stronger connections, active noise cancelations, voice assistants, and a longer battery life. 

• The premium chip, the QCC514x, supports "always-on" voice assistant compatibility, which only Apple and Amazon buds currently have. 

Bottom line: Tim Cook's doctrine states that Apple should own and control the primary technologies behind its products. Samsung's approach is similar. For wireless earbud manufacturers without doctrines, Qualcomm's new chip lineup could be a blessing. 

P.S. If you're wondering how the photo relates to the story, it doesn't. It just looks cool. 

BITS & BYTES

Stat: Fortnite parent Epic Games launched a publishing label that will cover up to 100% of game developers' costs and let them retain 100% of IP. Once costs are recouped, creators get at least half of all profits. 

Quote: "Put simply, any coronavirus-related recession is likely to bring about a spike in labor-replacing automation"—Brookings Institution researchers. 

Update: A week ago, I wrote about governments using smartphone location data for COVID-19 contact tracing. Since then, more countries have joined the club. A partial list:

• European telcos are sharing mobile data with some European governments. 
• As part of the U.S. stimulus package, the CDC will receive funding for a "surveillance and data collection system" to fight the virus. 
• Singapore will open its contact tracing tech to developers. 

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WHAT ELSE IS BREWING

• Fintech unicorn Brex acquired three startups, including one focused on blockchain. 
• Facebook's Portal is sold out.
• UPS Flight Forward, the company's drone unit, has partnered with Wingcopter to make a delivery drone that takes off vertically and flies horizontally. 
• Zoom is sending data to Facebook even if users don't have FB accounts, Vice reports.
• Dyson developed a ventilator in 10 days and will make 10,000 for the U.K. 

GOING PHISHING

There are over 30,000 known species of fish. But there are just five phishing choices for you to choose from here. Four news stories are real; one is fake. Can you spot the odd one out?  

1. A writer hallucinated upon removing a VR headset after four consecutive days of gameplay. 
2. A UC Boulder team wants to make buildings from bacteria.  
3. A high school graduation is set to take place in the gaming platform Roblox.
4. Aides are teaching the Queen of England how to video chat so she can keep up with the relatives. 
5. Two researchers published a paper for an exoskeleton contraption that could allow humans to run 50% faster. 

CODE VS. COVID

Wanted to leave you with a few examples of the tech community fighting coronavirus.

New York is creating a tech "SWAT team" and needs volunteers. IBM subsidiary The Weather Channel launched a coronavirus map. The WHO launched a medical chatbot with WhatsApp to provide COVID-19 info. Roughly 400 volunteer cyber experts have joined together to fight back against coronavirus-related hacking. And 3D printing companies are stepping up to help make personal protective equipment and ventilators. 

GOING PHISHING ANSWER

There will not be a high school graduation in Roblox (at least not this year).