Ambarella and Gauzy partnership leads to breakthroughs
Gauzy has announced that its strategic partnership with Edge AI semiconductor company Ambarella has led to breakthroughs in utilising AI in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and their potential to enhance road safety and redefine urban mobility.
Incorporating a CVflow AI system-on-chip (SoC) from Ambarella’s portfolio into the design of Gauzy’s AI-powered Smart-Vision camera monitor system (CMS) enhances road safety for drivers of commercial vehicles. The Gauzy solution, based on Ambarella’s CV2FS AI SoC, is already operational in Ford Trucks.
CMS replaces traditional side and/or rearview reflective-glass mirrors with high-resolution cameras mounted around the vehicle. Also referred to as e-mirrors, these systems include a live video stream to interior displays, allowing the driver to see a more expansive view of their surroundings and significantly reducing blind spots, which improves overall safety and visibility on the road.
The AI-powered Smart-Vision CMS, based on Ambarella’s CVflowAI accelerator, features self-learning and predictive capabilities. These include adaptive manoeuvre lines that are displayed while a vehicle is in motion and during trailer calibration to provide drivers with better visibility of their surroundings, as well as the ability to rapidly analyse large amounts of data and imagery for significantly reduced latency and real-time visibility.
Furthermore, the Smart-Vision system is programmed to automatically detect potential road hazards before they are encountered, significantly reducing the possibility of accidents or fatalities. The system also provides clear lines of sight via high image quality, across a wide variety of weather or lighting conditions. The Smart-Vision CMS’ surveillance mode deters theft and vandalisation, is compatible with various truck models and configurations, and can be easily integrated into existing fleets.
“It’s highly rewarding for us to be working so closely with Ambarella, a global leader in Edge AI vision processing, to advance the functionality and quality of Smart-Vision,” said Eyal Peso, CEO of Gauzy. “World-renowned brands like Ambarella trust Gauzy to utilise their proprietary technology to their full potential, and partner with us because of the success our products can have on saving lives and reducing costs. We recognised early on the monumental impact AI will have in redefining mobility and are proud to have already developed what we believe is the most sophisticated AI-powered ADAS solution on the market. We believe that enhancing our Smart-Vision system with Ambarella’s CVflowAI SoCs, which provide industry-leading AI performance per watt, provides OEMs with an innovative solution as part of their ongoing efforts to improve the safety of their fleets.”
The Smart-Vision system continues to grow in popularity with OEMs because it offers numerous economical, safety and climate-friendly advantages that traditional mirror systems do not. As as a result, OEMs continue retrofitting their existing fleets with ADAS technology like Smart-Vision and incorporating it into the design of new models at an escalating pace.
This is a key reason why the commercial-vehicle ADAS market is expected to reach more than $43 billion by 2030, according to Research and Markets. Replacing traditional mirrors with Smart-Vision on trucks and buses provides multiple safety enhancements, including reduced human error, fewer blind spots, improved night vision, and enhanced detection of obstacles and pedestrians. The system also delivers operational benefits through better fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs and increased productivity.
“Despite the tremendous advancements we have already made in ADAS, we are still at the beginning of the AI-ification of vision control. We will continue to innovate and improve the quality of our products, to retain our competitive edge and produce for our shareholders," added Peso. "We are energised by the strong demand for our Smart-Vision CMS and believe that we are well-positioned to capitalise on the renewed emphasis on safety in urban and intercity transport.”
Among the largest differentiators of Gauzy’s Smart-Vision system with Ambarella’s CVflow AI SoCs is its high-performance image processing capabilities. This is required for lowering the amount of latency experienced and for activating vulnerable road user (VRU) detection, object classification, data recording and video streaming. Additionally, Ambarella’s CVflow AI SoC architecture enables Gauzy’s development teams to fine-tune various parameters, resulting in superior image quality and highly accurate colour and contrast representation, which is essential for minimising driver fatigue.
“Our partnership with Gauzy demonstrates the power of what’s possible when two forward-thinking organizations with similar values work together to tackle industry challenges,” said Fermi Wang, President and CEO of Ambarella. “We were motivated to help Gauzy and its OEM customers address the millions of road traffic fatalities that are estimated to occur each year, and we believe the Smart-Vision CMS, with our CVflow AI SoCs, has the potential to drive this number lower. There is universal support for making our roadways safer, and we are pleased to help play a role in this effort through the application of our technology.”