Taiwan’s driverless vehicles research will be boosted by Nvidia

TAIPEI, Apr 20, 2019, Taiwan Today. A memorandum of understanding on promoting the development of driverless vehicle technology was concluded by the National Applied Research Laboratories and U.S.-based Nvidia Corp. April 18 in Taipei City, reported the Taiwan Today.

The institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology is set to work with the graphics chipmaker in providing comprehensive simulation services to firms at Taiwan Car Lab, an autonomous vehicle R&D site in the southern city of Tainan. These will be delivered through Nvidia’s Drive Constellation platform, a self-driving testing system capable of simulating a multitude of scenarios such as severe weather and varied traffic conditions.

MOST Minister Chen Liang-gee said that driverless vehicles are poised to transform the global automobile sector. With its world-class information and communication technology industry, Taiwan can make major contributions to this emerging field and gain a key position in related supply chains, he added.

According to NARL President Wang Yeong-her, Nvidia’s simulation solutions will help local firms adapt their products to the diverse and complex traffic conditions in Taiwan. This is also expected to boost the nation’s international competitiveness in the sector, he said.

Under the pact, NARL and Nvidia, a global leader in vehicle control systems, will also collaborate in cultivating Taiwan startups, hosting deep learning workshops, and assisting local sensor and video surveillance companies in adapting their products for use in testing services.

Opened Feb. 25 at Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, Taiwan Car Lab provides a testing site for real-world traffic conditions such as pedestrian and level crossings. It also facilitates R&D on a host of vehicles ranging from cars to medium-sized buses and RVs.