In a significant move, Amazon (AMZN) and mapping and location technology company HERE have signed a 10-year, $1 billion agreement that will see HERE utilize Amazon’s AWS cloud infrastructure to help automakers build location-sensitive technologies for their vehicles. This partnership is expected to revolutionize the automotive industry by providing automotive companies with the tools needed to build software-defined vehicles (SDVs), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and automated driving (AD).
What are Software-Defined Vehicles?
Software-defined vehicles, or SDVs, are vehicles that receive software updates through the cloud for various in-car systems. These updates enable new capabilities, similar to how your iPhone receives new features via new versions of iOS. For instance, Tesla (TSLA) offers a slew of updates to its autos via internet updates, including a recent Apple Watch app that allows you to check your vehicle’s charge and control its locks and Sirius XM support.
HERE and AWS: A Decade of Collaboration
HERE and AWS have been working together for the last 10 years. However, this new agreement brings more capabilities around ADAS and AD to the fore. Part of this includes the companies’ new SceneXtract software, which is designed to recreate real-world environments to develop ADAS and AD features.
SceneXtract: A Game-Changer in ADAS and AD Development
SceneXtract makes it easier for automakers to pull data from HERE’s HD Live Map, a cloud-based mapping service that provides highly accurate information related to a particular road’s lane information, local vehicle features, geometry, and more. The functionality is expected to cut down on the time it takes to prepare real-world simulations that automakers can use to train their own ADAS and AD functions without having to use real vehicles.
Benefits of SceneXtract
SceneXtract marks a significant milestone in ADAS and AD development, providing developers with a powerful tool to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of simulating real-world scenarios. 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.
HERE and AWS: Building a Better Mapping and Location Information System
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 information will be offered via Amazon’s AWS Marketplace to third-party developers as a means to improve their own supply chain services.
Real-World Applications of the Technology
Companies are already using this technology for real-time information about shipping important products and improving the accuracy of delivery estimates. The partnership between HERE and AWS is expected to bring significant benefits to the automotive industry, including:
- Improved Safety: By providing automakers with more accurate and efficient testing tools, SceneXtract can help reduce the number of accidents on the road.
- Increased Efficiency: With more efficient testing tools, manufacturers can bring safer, more advanced autonomous driving technologies to market faster.
- Cost Savings: By reducing the time and cost associated with simulating real-world scenarios, automakers can save money and resources.
Conclusion
The partnership between Amazon and HERE is a significant step towards revolutionizing the automotive industry. With SceneXtract and other innovative technologies, HERE and AWS are poised to make a lasting impact on the industry. As the demand for autonomous driving technologies continues to grow, this partnership is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation.
About Amazon (AMZN)
Amazon is an American multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest companies. Amazon is known for its e-commerce platform, cloud computing services, artificial intelligence, and more.
About HERE
HERE is a mapping and location technology company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company was founded in 2005 and provides a range of mapping and location-based services to automakers, governments, and other organizations.
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