Hookie's space motorcycle could one day be used by NASA to help astronauts cruise around the moon. Dubbed the Tardigrade, the prototype motorcycle is lighter and smaller than traditional moon buggies and has airless tires made via 3D printing.

As trucking fleets and suppliers look to the future, they're exploring how electric, fuel cell and autonomous truck technologies can work together. "There's nothing fundamental that says autonomous technology must be with diesel or must be with electric or must be with fuel cells," says Waymo's Charlie Jatt.

The city of Pittsburgh has received a grant from the state to help fund its traffic management center, which aims to open in 2023. When the center is operational, it will tap a system to monitor traffic lights at around 200 intersections, allowing the signals to be adjusted in real time to optimize traffic flow.

The Range Assistant, an in-vehicle app, will aim to help drivers of Volvo and Polestar electric vehicles make the most of their battery charge. The app can automatically reduce the drain on the battery by adjusting the climate-control system, boosting range efficiency when necessary.

Global navigation satellite systems are being improved to provide better accuracy and reliability, this analysis notes. "Most people are probably familiar with the use of GNSS for getting from point A to point B," says Greg Wolff of Microchip Technology, adding, "But when you move into areas like aviation and railway and maritime, these critical infrastructure sectors are incredibly dependent on GNSS-delivered services."

A fiscal 2022 appropriations bill introduced this week by Senate Democrats would provide $82.9 billion in discretionary budget authority to the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies, or THUD. That total includes more than $66 billion for transportation infrastructure investments, $49.9 billion of which would go to the Federal Highway Administration.