Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in the automotive industry, particularly in the development of autonomous vehicles. AI is used to enable vehicles to sense their environment, understand and respond to various situations, and make decisions. This includes tasks such as object detection, lane keeping, and traffic sign recognition. AI is also used in the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Additionally, AI is used in the creation of infotainment systems, to improve the overall driving experience and make it more convenient.
Artificial intelligence and self-driving cars are often complementary topics in technology. Simply put, you cannot really discuss one without the other.
Though AI is being implemented at rapid speed in a variety of sectors, the way it’s being used in the automotive industry is a hot-button issue.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: self-driving vehicles.
Many major auto manufacturers are working to create their own autonomous cars and driving features, but we’re going to focus on relatively young tech companies and startups that have formed out of the idea of self-driving vehicles.
Whether their technology is for use in public transportation, ride sharing or personal needs, the following companies are at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology.
Company : MOTIONAL
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
How it’s using AI in automotive: Motional is a joint effort between Aptiv and the Hyundai motor group, each combining its technical expertise with real-world experience to design autonomous driving technology that pushes the potential of self-driving cars into reality.
The company’s autonomous driving technology utilizes three sensor types — LiDAR, radar and cameras — to prioritize safety at all times, leading to the world’s first robotaxi pilot and an operational commercial robotaxi service that has provided over 100,000 self-driven rides with a record of zero at-fault incidents.
Since 2018, Motional has teamed up with major rideshare organizations Lyft, Via and Cox Automotive to increase the accessibility of self-driven transportation throughout the world.
Company : WAYMO
Location: Mountain View, California
How it’s using AI in automotive: Beginning as Google’s exploration of self-driving vehicles, Waymo is now its own company creating driverless vehicles that can safely deliver people from points A to B.
With over 20 million autonomous miles driven to date, Waymo’s 360-degree perception technology detects pedestrians, other vehicles, cyclists, road work and other obstacles from up to 300 yards away.
Company : ZOOX
Location: Foster City, California
How it’s using AI in automotive: While some companies are outfitting existing vehicles with self-driving capabilities, Zoox is creating its own autonomous vehicles from scratch.
The cars are being produced to be robotic rideshare vehicles. Similar to current transportation services like Uber or Lyft, a user would summon a Zoox vehicle for a ride through an app on their smartphone.
Company : AUTOX
Location: San Jose, California
How it’s using AI in automotive: AutoX makes retail-based autonomous vehicles, working on fleets for robotaxi and driverless grocery delivery services.
The company’s vehicles combine AI software, sensors, real-time cameras and thousands of test miles, both virtual and real, to ensure safe decisions on the road.
AutoX has been deploying its robotaxi services in China and also received a permit to launch a robotaxi pilot program in California.
Company : CCC Intelligent Solutions
Location: Chicago, Illinois
How it’s using AI in automotive: CCC enables the automotive and insurance industries to make better decisions through digital transformation driven by AI, IoT and workflow solutions.
The company connects auto manufacturers to a data pipeline that unlocks actionable insights from insurers and repair facilities while also connecting them to a network of over 26,000 repair facilities nationwide, facilitating visibility into how to make vehicles safer and more durable.
Company : Rethnik Robotics
Location: Bochum, Germany
How it’s using AI in automotive: Rethink Robotics, part of the HAHN Group, makes “cobots,” or collaborative robots, for industrial automation. These robots are used to automate factory tasks that are tedious, dirty or even dangerous for human workers.
Though robots have been working on the automotive manufacturing line for years, they never worked side by side with humans. Rethink’s robots work with humans on the supply chain, tending machines, handling materials, performing tests and packing finished products.