[240319] #TIER IV #Arm #RoboSense

1. TIER IV partners with Arm on new automotive technologies

• TIER IV, known for open-source autonomous driving technology, collaborates with Arm, a semiconductor and software design leader.
• The partnership, including TIER IV and Autoware Foundation (AWF), with Arm aims to develop virtual platforms and software solutions using Arm Automotive Enhanced (AE) technologies.
• TIER IV integrates its cloud-native DevOps and MLOps platform, Web.Auto, with virtual Arm processors on AWS cloud instances to address the need for faster hardware and software development cycles in software-defined vehicles.
• Web.Auto offers development platform tools like AD simulators, CI/CD data pipeline, fleet management, and remote monitoring systems for efficient development and safe operation of AD systems.
• The collaboration is a continuation of CES 2024 Autoware Open AD Kit demonstration, showcasing Web.Auto’s capabilities.
• The aim is to revolutionize hardware and chip development for future AD applications, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions before investing in physical hardware.
• TIER IV leads efforts to deploy AD systems across Japan, aligned with the government’s objective of establishing driverless services.
• The collaboration aims to provide automakers and chipmakers with tools for designing essential hardware, accelerating the transition from AD proof-of-concept tests to widespread commercial deployments.

2. LeddarTech partners with Arm for advanced vehicle tech

• LeddarTech Holdings Inc. collaborates with semiconductor company Arm to enhance ADAS and AD technologies.
• LeddarTech’s LeddarVision software will integrate with Arm’s Automotive Enhanced (AE) technology to expedite software-defined vehicle development.
• The partnership aims to improve CPU capabilities for ADAS, shorten time-to-market, and accelerate innovation in the automotive industry.
• LeddarTech emphasizes its history of innovation and the robustness of the joint solution for the automotive sector.
• Arm’s Vice-President highlights the importance of swift innovation and how the partnership can support OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
• LeddarTech has faced challenges in revenue decline and weak gross profit margins, according to financial metrics.
• The company’s market cap is $106.74M USD, with a high Price / Book multiple, indicating high revenue valuation multiple and price volatility.

3. RoboSense Wins 2024 Tech.AD Award for Perception and Sensing

• RoboSense’s M3 lidar sensor won the Tech.AD Europe Award 2024 in the Perception and Sensing category for its innovation in powering intelligent vehicles.
• The M3 is a long-range, automotive-grade sensor that achieves a 300m range at 10% reflectivity using 940nm wavelengths, rivaling incumbent sensors.
• It features advanced 2D scanning technology with a 0.05° x 0.05° angular resolution within the region of interest (ROI), enabling the detection of smaller objects at longer distances.
• Designed on a modular platform, the M3 allows seamless upgrades to the next generation without extra design changes or validation, crucial for OEM customers iterating on ADAS and AD systems.
• RoboSense’s mass manufacturing capabilities, including a CNAS-accredited lab for stringent validation and testing, provide an advantage for customers.
• The company has obtained 62 vehicle model design wins and assisted 12 OEMs and Tier 1 customers in mass production.
• The company has diversified its customer base globally, working with North American-based OEMs, Japanese OEMs, Tier 1 companies, and mobility startups.

4. Remote driving startup Phantom Auto is shutting down

• Phantom Auto, a remote driving startup, is shutting down after failing to secure new funding.
• The company, founded seven years ago, developed a teleoperation platform allowing remote drivers to operate vehicles if needed.
• Despite raising $95 million, including a $25 million raise in 2023, the startup could not secure another round of funding.
• At its peak, Phantom Auto employed around 120 people, but staff cuts reduced the workforce to a little over 100.
• The closure reflects challenges faced by startups in the autonomous vehicle industry, with many failing to meet optimistic deployment timelines.
• Founder and CEO Shai Magzimof announced the closure on LinkedIn, citing market conditions and insufficient funding.
• The company had traction in customer deployments, particularly in logistics, including agreements with Maersk, CJ Logistics, ArcBest, and Serve Robotics.
• Initially focused on autonomous vehicles on public roads, Phantom Auto pivoted in 2019 to target logistics vehicles and sidewalk delivery robots.

5. Mitsubishi Corp to invest in TIER IV: Transforming regional mobility with autonomous driving

• Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) makes a strategic investment in TIER IV, Inc. (TIER IV), a leader in open-source autonomous driving technology.
• The investment aims to transform mobility services in regional areas using autonomous driving technology.
• MC has been actively involved in the “Digital Transformation of Regional Mobility” initiative, focusing on enhancing transportation efficiency in rural Japan.
• A-Drive Inc. was established by MC to provide autonomous driving services, conducting proof-of-concept tests across Japan.
• TIER IV develops safe and efficient autonomous driving systems using open-source technology, particularly through its Autoware platform.
• The investment strengthens the collaborative relationship between MC and TIER IV, supporting the advancement of autonomous driving initiatives.