ZF readies next-gen car computer for high level autonomous driving

LAS VEGAS -- German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen revealed the next generation of its ProAI supercomputer, capable of enabling increased data processing for up to Level 5, or fully self-driving, autonomous vehicles, at CES on Monday.The first-generation ProAI, introduced last year at CES and recently utilized by Chinese tech company Baidu for autonomous parking functionality, combines data from sensors and acts as the brain of an autonomous vehicle to make driving decisions. It is about to go into production for a Chinese carmaker, according to ZF.The newest iteration of ProAI uses an upgraded chipset from supplier Nvidia to allow 30 times the processing power as the original and the ability to capture greater visual information from surrounding sensors.The upgrades are part of ZF's wider effort to provide turnkey autonomous solutions for customers. After acquiring safety system supplier TRW in 2015, the supplier has steadily accumulated a sensor portfolio of radars, cameras and lidar, showcased in its autonomous development Dream Car exhibited at the tech trade show."We have the actuators. We have the computers. We can combine them to provide intelligent, mechanical systems," ZF board member Michael Hankel said.ZF, ranked No. 2 on Automotive News' list of the top 100 global suppliers, also announced a collaboration with Microsoft to develop a software platform for mobility services such as ride-hailing and fleet management.

ZF readies next-gen car computer for high level autonomous driving

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