JLR partners with Nvidia to develop AI and autonomous vehicle technology
18 February 2022
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has entered a partnership with technology company Nvidia. The pair will jointly develop automated-driving systems and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled services. From 2025, all new JLR vehicles will be built on Nvidia Drive, a software-defined platform that allows carmakers to customise driving features.
JLR customers will gain access to a raft of new features. This will include active-safety and driver-assistance technology, alongside automated systems for parking and driving. Inside, vehicles will sport AI-defined capabilities, including driver and passenger monitoring, as well as advanced visualisations of the outside world.
Full-stack features
JLR’s upcoming models will be developed with a full-stack solution from Nvidia. This means both the consumer-facing front end and the data-driven back end will be covered. The Drive Hyperion platform will act as the central nervous system, providing safety, security, and networking. The package will also support sensors used for autonomous-driving, parking, and intelligent-cockpit applications.
Meanwhile, system-on-a-chip (SoC) Drive Orin will handle JLR’s operating system, effectively becoming the car’s AI brain. This is similar to Mobileye’s EqeQ Ultra chip, which was unveiled at CES 2022. These integrated circuits can combine many different computer elements onto a single chip. This means faster, smaller, cheaper, and more efficient computing units.
With its centralised capabilities, Orin will provide active-safety and automated systems for driving and parking, as well as driver-assistance systems built on Drive AV software. JLR will also use Nvidia DGX for training AI models and software built on Nvidia Omniverse for accurate simulations.
‘Next-generation cars will transform automotive into one of the largest and most advanced technology industries. Fleets of software-defined, programmable cars will offer new functionalities and services for the life of the vehicles,’ said Jensen Huang, Nvidia founder and CEO.
Reimagine strategy
These technology-targeted tactics fall in line with JLR’s Reimagine strategy, which was announced roughly a year ago. The plan focuses on sustainability through electrification as the carmaker aims to transform into ‘an all-electric luxury brand from 2025’ and then go net-zero by 2039. The company recently secured a £625 million (€750 million) loan to bolster its battery-electric vehicle (BEV) building efforts, into which it looks to invest roughly £2.5 billion a year.
Part of these efforts includes an increased emphasis on digitalisation. The OEM will work with industry leaders like Nvidia to advance its clean-energy efforts, connected services, as well as data and software development. ‘Collaboration and knowledge-sharing with industry leader Nvidia is essential to realising our Reimagine strategy, setting new benchmarks in quality, technology and sustainability,’ said Thierry Bolloré, JLR CEO.
In another digital development, JLR announced the deployment of Amazon Alexa in all its vehicles equipped with its Pivi Pro infotainment system. The voice-enabled technology can connect with navigation, media, phone calls, and compatible smart devices. Issued via an over-the-air (OTA) update, the upgrade was possible thanks to advances in connected-vehicle capabilities. But how does OTA work and what are its automotive implications? Find out now in the latest Autovista24 What is? explainer video.
