Graphics chip maker Nvidia just launched a curious artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which the company said will power Baidu's self-driving car in the future. The palm-sized computer called Drive PX 2 is capable of automating a vehicle, particularly in the area of driving and mapping.
Nvidia's announcement coincided with the AI technology's launch during the GPU Technology Conference in Beijing, where spectators were treated to its features, which include a single-processor configuration that only requires 10 watts of power to run.
This new development is a bit surprising because the autonomous car industry has been so far dominated by big tech players such as Google, Apple and Tesla. All these companies have been developing their respective self-driving car technologies for years.
"Bringing an AI computer to the car in a small, efficient form factor is the goal of many automakers," Rob Csongor, vice president and general manager of Automotive at Nvidia, said. "Nvidia Drive PX 2 in the car solves this challenge for our OEM and tier 1 partners, and complements our data center solution for mapping and training."
The Nvidia Drive PX 2 also uses neural networks that are trained in the company's data center called Nvidia DGX-1. The concept is similar to the one used in the better known Google AI technology, DeepMind. This capability, allows Nvidia's AI solution to process inputs from multiple cameras, plus lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors.
To put its power in context, there is the stated capability of the AI's single processor to combine incoming data inputs so that the computer could make sense of the complex picture and condition surrounding the vehicle and make decisions such as how it can plan a safe path forward.
Drive PX 2 can also receive over-the-air updates, similar to what is in Tesla's self-driving cars. This feature allows both the car and the AI to obtain additional features over the course of its life span.
Aside from Baidu, which is expected to use the Nvidia product for its self-driving cloud-to-car system, more than 80 other car manufacturers are said to be using the technology.
Nvidia did not disclose the identity of these companies, opting to highlight its partnership with the Chinese web services company instead. However, it indicates an emerging pattern today, wherein self-driving car architecture is starting to be available to new entrants in the market. Nvidia, through the Drive PX 2, will effectively be contributing to the elimination of barriers to entry.
