Talk about self-driving cars is everywhere at the moment, with various companies striving to get there first with the next big development. Many people think that Google is going to be the first to succeed in this field as they have invested large sums of time and money into this field and already have various prototypes in place. But, they may have some stiff competition closing in on them from behind, and that is Mobileye.
Mobileye is an Israeli technology company that formed in 1999 and specialized in developing assisted driving software. Now, as the race to reach the ultimate autonomous vehicle continues, Mobileye have jumped in and could soon be at the front. They are currently working on a specialized mapping system that will be autonomous cars to become an everyday element of the not too distant future.
Cofounder Amnon Shashua has recently been testing an Audi A7 that has been fitted with the revolutionary technology and confirmed that although it is a fun drive, not having to take hold of the steering wheel or pedals, it is not completely stress-free, and there are still issues to be ironed out. However, having already formed valuable partnerships with many carmakers, including Audi and Cadillac these issues are sure to be addressed quickly.
The real-time mapping software that has been developed gathers data from the vehicles to pinpoint the car’s exact location in regards to curbs, traffic lights, and other objects. It then uses cameras and sensors to update the maps constantly to ensure the car has a clear picture. General motors are going to be the first company to get the technology and then Renault-Nissan and Volkswagen will be shortly after.
Mobileye is taking a different route to that of Google regarding producing autonomous technology. Where Google are looking to produce vehicles without even a steering wheel or pedals, Mobileye recognizes the need for these things in extreme circumstances and so have decided to go down the mapping road instead.
As well as using front facing cameras as part of the technology, the company also want to provide over-the-air software updates for the cars, and with the USA announcing that 98% of new cars will be connected to the cloud by 2022, this is an excellent opportunity for Mobileye. But it is not the time for them to take their eye off the ball just yet. With technology moving so quickly and everyone wanting a piece of the limelight, it is important that Mobileye stays ahead of the game if they want to be the next big name in this field.
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