Ex-Apple Employees Create Autonomous Tech That Can Foresee Motion Of Vehicles On Road
A California-based start-up claims to be the missing link here having created a 3D mapping technology that can foresee a vehicle&rsquos motion on the road. Aeva Inc as the startup is known is a brainchild of two ex-Apple employees Soroush Salehian and Mina Rezk.
Do you ever predict another vehicle¡¯s motion on the road while driving? Well, subconsciously, we all do, and it is one of the basic essences of driving. It is also one of the core differences between a human driver and an autonomous technology powering a car i.e. until now. A California-based start-up claims to be the missing link here, having created a 3D mapping technology that can foresee a vehicle¡¯s motion on the road.
Aeva Inc., as the startup is known, is a brainchild of two ex-Apple employees, Soroush Salehian and Mina Rezk. Its new 3D mapping technology claims to have combined the capabilities of a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) instrument, a camera as well as a motion sensor in one. The final result can predict the future motion of a vehicle, based upon its position with respect to the surroundings, its direction and its velocity.
Do not mistake it for a fully autonomous technology though. As per the founders, the tiny box developed by Aeva is just a ¡°better set of eyes¡± for a full-fledged autonomous capability. In essence, it has been created to improve upon the existing LIDAR technology being used in most of the autonomous vehicles. A compatible autonomous software is still required for all practical purposes.
Aeva Inc.
So how is it better, you ask? The company claims that the 4D LIDAR appointed by Aeva works continuously as opposed to the interval-based functioning of most other LIDAR systems. The reason for this is the absence of an algorithm for monitoring the lasers¡¯ operations. As a result, Aeva is able to measure field depth, object velocity and scene reflectivity continuously and instantaneously. The entire data is then to be used by an AI algorithm for the necessary operation on the road.
Not only this, Aeva claims to be using more efficient and pocket-friendly sensors for its functioning. What¡¯s more, the tiny box is said to be compatible with any and every autonomous driving software.
The Silicon-Valley-based startup has recently also received $45 million in funding by Lux Capital and Canaan.
