Harnessing the power of AI for breakthroughs in ADAS including Ford trucks

Gauzy Ltd. has announced its strategic partnership with Ambarella, Inc., which has led to breakthroughs in the AI-ification of ADAS and their potential to enhance road safety and redefine urban mobility drastically. Incorporating a CVflow AI SoC from Ambarella’s cutting-edge portfolio into the design of Gauzy’s AI-powered Smart-Vision camera monitor system (CMS) improves road safety for drivers of commercial vehicles. Based on Ambarella’s CV2FS AI SoC, the Gauzy solution is already operational in Ford Trucks.

CMS replaces conventional side and/or rearview reflective-glass mirrors with high-resolution cameras mounted around the vehicle. Also known as e-mirrors, these systems include a live video stream to interior displays, permitting the driver to see a wider view of their surroundings and greatly reducing blind spots, which improves overall safety and visibility on the road.

The highly sophisticated, AI-powered Smart-Vision CMS, based on Ambarella’s CVflow AI 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 supply drivers with better visibility of their surroundings, as well as the ability to quickly analyse large amounts of data and imagery for greatly reduced latency and real-time visibility. Moreover, 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 various weather or lighting conditions. The Smart-Vision CMS’s surveillance mode deters theft and vandalisation, is compatible with multiple truck models and configurations, and readily integrates 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,” stated 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 CVflow AI 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 highly advanced Smart-Vision system continues to grow in popularity with OEMs because it provides numerous economical, safety and climate-friendly benefits that traditional mirror systems do not. As such, OEMs continue retrofitting their existing fleets with ADAS technology like Smart-Vision and integrating it into the design of new models at an escalating pace. Replacing traditional mirrors with Smart-Vision on trucks and buses delivers 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.

Peso added, “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. 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.”

Its high-performance image processing capabilities are among the biggest differentiators of Gauzy’s Smart-Vision system with Ambarella’s CVflow AI SoCs. This is needed to lower the latency experienced and activate vulnerable road user (VRU) detection, object classification, data recording, and video streaming. Also, 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 organisations with similar values work together to tackle industry challenges,” commented 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.”

The Smart-Vision CMS has passed strict homologations and certifications for safety, including United Nation (UN) R46, UN R10, UN R118 and UN R151, as well as stringent cybersecurity Automotive Spice standards set by OEMs, including UN R155 and UN R156.