Patents

The timing in promoting its growing patent portfolio could suggest TuSimple is trying to find a buyer for its U.S. business.

Ford is experimenting with a system that would allow drones to be controlled autonomously from delivery vans.

TuSimple is sitting on $1.5 billion in cash as it ramps up hiring and expands its autonomous freight network.

The United States’ resident delivery colossus could unveil a game-changing last-mile solution.

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“Historically, patents were a source of value creation. But today, innovation often comes from other places,” says supply chain technology investor Benjamin Gordon.

Spireon has patented its technology approach to managing an automotive dealership’s vehicle inventory by pairing a tracking device to a vehicle, making this the 30th patent secured by Spireon for advanced connected vehicle technologies.

The concept involves storing a multitude of various types of data within a distributed ledger network, including information about a given package’s destination, its movement and transportation plans for shipment units.

Nikola Motor has sued Tesla for patent infringement on its Nikola One, at left. The Tesla model is at right. Nikola claims Tesla violated patents on door placement, wraparound windshield and the fuselage.