Tesla acquires computer vision startup DeepScale in push toward robotaxis – TechCrunch

#News(Startup) [ via IoTGroup ]

Tesla has acquired DeepScale, a Silicon Valley startup that uses low-wattage processors to power more accurate computer vision, in a bid to improve its Autopilot driver assistance system and deliver on CEO Elon Musk’s vision to turn its electric vehicles into robotaxis.
Tesla vehicles are not considered fully autonomous, or Level 4, a designation by SAE that means the car can handle all aspects of driving in certain conditions without human intervention.
Instead, Tesla vehicles are “Level 2,” and its Autopilot feature is a more advanced driver assistance system than most other vehicles on the road today.
Musk has promised that the advanced driver assistance capabilities on Tesla vehicles will continue to improve until eventually reaching that full automation high-water mark.
Earlier this year, Musk said Tesla would launch an autonomous ridesharing network by 2020.
The acquisition also brings much needed talent to Tesla’s Autopilot team, which has suffered from a number of departures in the past year, The Information reported in July.
DeepScale has developed a way to use efficient deep neural networks on small, low-cost, automotive-grade sensors and processors to improve the accuracy of perception systems.
These perception systems, which use sensors, mapping, planning and control systems to interpret and classify data in real time, are essential to the operation of autonomous vehicles.
The company argued that its method of using low-wattage and low-cost sensors and processors allowed it to deliver driver assistance and autonomous driving to vehicles at all price points.
The Twitter message read “I joined the @Tesla #Autopilot team this week.
I joined the @Tesla #Autopilot team this week.
In Tesla’s push toward “full self-driving,” it developed a new custom chip designed to those capabilities.
Musk has said that Tesla vehicles being produced now have the hardware necessary — computer and otherwise — for full self-driving.

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