LG joins Microsoft to boost artificial intelligence for autonomous cars
LG Electronics (LG) and Microsoft have signed a collaboration agreement that will impact the future development and strengthening of LG's business line dedicated to autonomous vehicles and infotainment systems . Thanks to this collaboration, LG will be able to accelerate the transformation of its current digital platform for the automotive industry—which the company considers a key growth driver—by leveraging Microsoft's Azure cloud technologies and artificial intelligence, along with LG's future self-driving software.
LG will therefore apply Microsoft's knowledge and expertise in Artificial Intelligence to its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems ( ADAS ), Driver-Status Monitoring Camera (DSM ) , and Multi-Purpose Front Camera . Furthermore, LG will integrate Microsoft's virtual assistant solution into its infotainment system . Thanks to the Azure Data Box service, data collected during driving—such as road and traffic patterns—can be stored and subsequently used to help the self-driving software improve, becoming increasingly intelligent and predictive.
In addition to the above, LG plans to develop innovative testing and digital development environments using cutting-edge technology. Microsoft Azure's high-performance computing ( HPC ) and graphics processing units (GPU ) solutions will radically reduce the time LG's self-driving software currently needs to learn and evolve. Analyzing urban road and traffic patterns, which currently takes LG's self-driving software more than a full day, will be reduced to just a few minutes of work with Azure.
Azure will also help the AI-powered self-driving software learn from drivers' driving patterns and recognize and distinguish between pedestrians and other objects on the road. The performance and functionality of both the Driver State Monitoring ( DSM ) Camera and the Multi-Purpose Front Camera will increase significantly once the AI-powered self-driving software—now powered by Azure—is embedded within the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems ( ADAS ).
Along with its ability to enhance self-driving software with artificial intelligence, Azure also offers a voice-controlled virtual assistant solution. With Azure's help, LG's in-vehicle infotainment system will allow drivers to easily and quickly check traffic conditions while on the road, search for nearby restaurants, request their favorite songs, and much more.
"We expect that the combination of Microsoft's state-of-the-art infrastructure and LG's growing vehicle components business unit will boost the entire self-driving industry," said Jin-yong Kim, President of the LG Vehicle Components Company. "We are confident that the union of Microsoft and LG technologies will create a new standard in the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in autonomous driving."
"LG and Microsoft, together, can transform the future of the transportation industry" - said Sanjay Ravi, general manager of Microsoft's automotive area. “Working hand in hand, we give car manufacturers the possibility of offering absolutely differential mobility experiences, the possibility also of creating new services, and therefore, of benefits for them. And most importantly, the possibility of building safer, smarter and more sustainable vehicles. "
