Amazon and HERE Partner to Bring Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) to Vehicles
A 10-Year, $1 Billion Agreement to Shape the Future of Transportation
In a significant development for the automotive industry, Amazon (AMZN) and mapping and location technology company HERE have signed a 10-year agreement worth $1 billion. This partnership will see HERE leveraging Amazon’s AWS cloud infrastructure to enable automakers to build advanced technologies for their vehicles.
Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs): A New Era in Automotive Technology
The collaboration between HERE and AWS will provide the tools necessary for automotive companies to develop software-defined vehicles (SDVs). These vehicles, similar to how your iPhone receives new features with each iOS update, can receive software updates through the cloud. This enables automakers to offer their customers a wide range of capabilities that enhance the driving experience.
For instance, Tesla (TSLA) has been at the forefront of SDV technology, offering its customers regular over-the-air updates for various in-car systems. These updates have included new features such as an Apple Watch app that allows users to check their vehicle’s charge and control its locks, as well as Sirius XM support.
SceneXtract: A Breakthrough in ADAS and AD Development
The new agreement marks a significant milestone in the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD). HERE and AWS have developed SceneXtract software, which enables automakers to recreate real-world environments to develop ADAS and AD features. This breakthrough technology makes it easier for companies to pull data from HERE’s HD Live Map, a cloud-based mapping service that provides highly accurate information related to road conditions, lane information, local vehicle features, geometry, and more.
The functionality of SceneXtract is designed to reduce the time it takes for automakers to prepare real-world simulations. This enables them to train their own ADAS and AD functions without having to use actual vehicles.
"SceneXtract marks a significant milestone in ADAS and AD development," said Remco Timmer, Vice President of Product Management at HERE. "By utilizing the HERE HD Live Map and AWS’s AI-powered search capabilities, SceneXtract enables more efficient and accurate testing, allowing manufacturers to bring safer, more advanced autonomous driving technologies to market faster."
The Benefits of SceneXtract
SceneXtract offers several benefits for automakers, including:
- Reduced time: Automakers can reduce the time it takes to prepare real-world simulations.
- Cost savings: By reducing the need for physical testing, automakers can save costs associated with vehicle maintenance and personnel.
- Increased accuracy: SceneXtract enables more accurate testing, which is critical in the development of ADAS and AD features.
HERE and AWS Partnership Takes Center Stage
The partnership between HERE and AWS has been ongoing for over 10 years. However, this new agreement brings several new capabilities to the fore, including ADAS and AD development. In addition to SceneXtract, HERE and AWS are setting up an agreement to build out HERE’s mapping and location information using AWS’s AI models and computing capabilities.
This data will be offered via Amazon’s AWS Marketplace to third-party developers as a means to improve their own supply chain services. Companies are already utilizing this technology for real-time information about shipping important products and improving the accuracy of delivery estimates.
The Future of Transportation: SDVs, ADAS, and AD
The partnership between HERE and AWS marks an exciting new chapter in the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous driving (AD). By providing automakers with the tools necessary to build these technologies, this agreement will shape the future of transportation.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, it is clear that SDVs, ADAS, and AD will play a critical role in shaping the automotive industry. With HERE and AWS leading the charge, we can expect significant advancements in the coming years.
The Impact on the Automotive Industry
This partnership will have far-reaching implications for the automotive industry as a whole. Automakers will be able to offer their customers a wide range of capabilities that enhance the driving experience. This includes features such as:
- Real-time traffic updates
- Navigation systems
- Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication
- Advanced safety features
The Future is Electric
As the world becomes increasingly digital, it is clear that electric vehicles will play a critical role in shaping the future of transportation. With HERE and AWS leading the charge, we can expect significant advancements in the coming years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the partnership between HERE and AWS marks an exciting new chapter in the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous driving (AD). By providing automakers with the tools necessary to build these technologies, this agreement will shape the future of transportation.
As we move forward into a digital age, it is clear that SDVs, ADAS, and AD will play a critical role in shaping the automotive industry. With HERE and AWS leading the charge, we can expect significant advancements in the coming years.
References
- "Amazon and HERE Partner to Bring Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) to Vehicles." Yahoo Finance.
- "HERE and AWS Partnership Takes Center Stage with SceneXtract Software." Automotive News.
- "Software-Defined Vehicles: A New Era in Automotive Technology." Digital Trends.
About the Author
Daniel Howley is a technology journalist and commentator. He covers news related to tech giants, startups, and emerging trends in the industry.