Self-driving tech start-up Wayve is ready to face a new challenge – transitioning its system from driving on the left side of the road in the UK to the right side in the US. Supported by investment from tech giants like Microsoft, Nvidia, and SoftBank, the London-based firm plans to test its autonomous driving technology on Californian roads, along with Zoox and Waymo, both of which already hold a significant presence in the region.
The firm’s AI-driven software, initially trained on London’s narrow, congested roads, faces the transition to the broad, easy-going roads of California. However, Wayve is confident that its fleet of Ford Mach-Es, with an AI model learning from real-world testing and simulations, will successfully make the transition.
Unlike Waymo, Wayve’s approach does not rely on high-precision mapping or lidar radar systems. Instead, like Tesla, it relies only on cameras and AI systems. Wayve’s CEO, Alex Kendall, emphasized the ability of their software to generalize and adjust to new road rules relatively quickly, much like human drivers. Wayve has already reported swift learning progress with four-way stop sign rules in the US.
Wayve’s expansion contributes to a successful year for the start-up, marked by new offices in Vancouver and San Francisco, a promising partnership with Uber, and recognition from industry leaders. With the aim of equipping consumer vehicles with its technology, Wayve is set to further its mission towards a fully autonomous vehicle industry.
Concluding the firm’s current objectives, Kendall expressed a future interest in exploring the robotics field, and noted the potential of the firm’s physical world understanding AI system in applications beyond autonomous vehicles.
