NVIDIA unveiled a series of partnerships with five of the Europe’s key players to move AI technology into production. The alliances were announced by NVDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang at Automobil Elektronik Congress. Volvo Cars and Autoliv are teaming up with NVIDIA to develop advanced systems and software for AI self-driving cars, the companies announced. NVIDIA also announced it has formed a strategic partnership with ZF and HELLA to deliver AI technology with the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) safety certification for the mass deployment of self-driving vehicles. The agreement is non-exclusive. NVIDIA will also be working with Volkswagen
Volvo, Zenuity & NVIDIA
The three companies will work together along with Zenuity — a newly formed automotive software development joint venture equally owned by Volvo Cars and Autoliv — to develop next-generation self-driving car technologies. Production vehicles built on the NVIDIA DRIVE™ PX car computing platform are planned for sale by 2021.
“Artificial intelligence is the essential tool for solving the incredibly demanding challenge of autonomous driving,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, who discussed the initiative during a keynote address at the Automobil Elektronik Kongress. “We are building on our earlier collaboration with Volvo to create production vehicles that will make driving safer, lead to greener cities and reduce congestion on our roads.”
Volvo Cars, Autoliv and Zenuity will use NVIDIA’s AI car computing platform as the foundation for their own advanced software development.
Volvo, Autoliv, Zenuity and NVIDIA will work together to create systems that can utilize deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to recognize objects in their environment, anticipate potential threats and navigate safely.
The NVIDIA DRIVE PX system enables full 360-degree, real-time situational awareness and uses a known high-definition map to plan a safe route and drive precisely along it, adjusting to ever-changing circumstances. The system also performs other critical functions, such as stitching camera inputs to create a complete surround-view of the car’s environment.
Zenuity will provide Volvo with self-driving software. Autoliv will also sell this software to third-party OEMs using its established and broad sales, marketing and distribution network.
NVIDIA ZF & HELLA
ZF, one of the industry’s largest automotive suppliers, and HELLA, a leading tier 1 supplier of camera perception software and sensor technologies, will provide customers with a complete self-driving system that integrates front camera units, as well as supporting software functions and radar systems.
Using the NVIDIA DRIVE™ PX AI platform, the partnership aims to produce the highest NCAP safety ratings for passenger cars, while also addressing commercial vehicle and off-highway applications. NVIDIA DRIVE PX offers both NCAP safety and self-driving capabilities on a single platform ready for production.
NVIDIA DRIVE PX will enable ZF and HELLA to develop software for scalable systems starting from modern driver assistance systems that connect their advanced imaging and radar sensor technologies for autonomous driving functionality.
NVIDIA & Volkswagen
For future-oriented digital topics, the Volkswagen Group remains committed to artificial intelligence (AI). This is why Volkswagen IT is cooperating with US technology company NVIDIA with a view to expanding its competence in the field of deep learning. At the Volkswagen Data Lab, IT experts are developing advanced AI systems with deep learning.
At Volkswagen, the Data Lab has been named the Group’s center of excellence for AI and data analysis. Specialists are exploring possibilities to use deep learning in corporate processes and in the field of mobility services. For example, they are developing new procedures for optimizing traffic flow in cities. Advanced AI systems are also among the prerequisites for developments such as intelligent human-robot cooperation.
In addition, Volkswagen has established a startup support program at its Data Lab. The program will provide technical and financial support for international startups developing machine learning and deep learning applications for the automotive industry. Together with NVIDIA, Volkswagen will be admitting five startups to the support program from this fall.
Both partners will also be launching a “Summer of Code” camp where high-performing students with qualifications in IT, mathematics or physics will have an opportunity to develop deep learning methods in teams and to implement them in a robotics environment
NVIDIA’s latest announcements build on existing collaborations with Europe’s Audi and Mercedes, as well as Toyota and Tesla Motors.