Kakao Mobility and NVIDIA plan Level 4 driving systems
South Korea’s Kakao Mobility announced a development agreement with NVIDIA for Level 4 autonomous driving. Its driving model will be combined with vehicle computing, sensor reference designs and safety-validation tools. Initial vehicle work builds on Kakao Mobility’s July partnership with Kia. The collaboration prepares technology for future autonomous services rather than opening a new passenger service.
Artificial Intelligence··Midday
Kakao combines its driving model with NVIDIA systems
South Korea’s Kakao Mobility announced an agreement with NVIDIA on November 9 to develop Level 4 autonomous-driving technology for future services. The work combines Kakao Mobility’s transport platform and proprietary driving model with NVIDIA computing and optimisation tools. Kakao is developing an end-to-end approach, connecting perception of the road and decisions about driving within a single model. The announcement concerns technology development and vehicle integration, rather than the opening of a new passenger service.[1], [2]
Sensor connections and safety tools support development
NVIDIA’s Hyperion sensor and computing reference architecture is intended to support connections between the vehicle, sensors and autonomous-driving computing units. This supplies a design framework for bringing those parts together. Kakao Mobility also plans to use Halos, NVIDIA’s safety system, during software development and validation. Its announced role is to help detect and prevent anomalies while the driving software is being developed and checked; the agreement does not announce a completed safety certification.[1]
Kia partnership supplies the initial vehicle basis
Initial vehicle development will build on Kakao Mobility’s partnership with Kia, established in July for purpose-built vehicles serving autonomous transport. Kia vehicles have been selected as the initial basis for integrating Kakao’s software and NVIDIA technologies. Kakao Mobility plans to develop and supply vehicles for future Level 4 services. Chief executive Ryu Geung-seon described the agreement as preparation for commercialisation, drawing on the company’s own technology, transport platform and partnerships with vehicle and component businesses.[1]
