Redmond-based software firm, Microsoft Corp. best known for the Windows PC operating system, and it’s Surface Pro Notebook, is revealing its own plans for self-driven cars at the CES 2017 event.
According to online reports, the firm is partnering with five firms including insurance company Swiss Re on what it’s billing as a “collective vision of safe and secure end-to-end mobility.” And it’s one where artificial intelligence takes a front seat.
Specifically, AI (Artificial Intelligence) bots will make real-time connections between traffic situations and pedestrian density via the current suite of sensing tools used in vehicles, from car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication, to radar, camera and LIDAR systems to optimize driver safety and engagement.
“This collaboration at CES 2017 is another example of how we work together to continue testing, to see what sticks, and to help automakers bring truly personalized experiences to drivers and services that learn unique behaviors and can make improvements over time,” said Kevin Dallas, corporate VP of business development for Microsoft.[related-posts]
In terms of autonomous driving, German-based IAV is providing the technology for cars to guide themselves. It will work with Microsoft’s Azure Cloud services, and is based on the system the company is already using in real-world tests in Europe and the US.
“Those vehicles have already covered a huge number of miles with almost no intervention from the driver,” said Karsten Schulze, senior VP, active safety and driver assistance at IAV.
Other partners include Dutch-based NXP Semiconductors, Californian mapping and analytics firm Esri and Ireland-based Cubic Telecom for 4G/LTE provision. NXP’s role is enabling V2V and V2I communication.
