Elly Yates-Roberts |
UK-based Wayve is using Microsoft Azure to deliver autonomous driving technology at scale, with a goal to be the first to deploy self-driving technology in 100 cities.
The organisation – which started as a member of the Microsoft for Startups: Autonomous Driving programme – is currently using the Microsoft cloud to carry out research and development of a data-driven solution that can drive in urban environments.
“Microsoft Azure gives us a secure, agile and reliable cloud platform on which to develop the next generation of urban transport,” said Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve. “We are excited by the opportunities that the Azure deal will create for Wayve as we push our machine learning to new levels of scale using data from fleets of connected vehicles across the world.”
Wayve’s computer vision system, which Microsoft describes as the “brain” of the car, learns from observing human driving. The system has been trained in one city and has successfully driven in new cities that it has not been exposed to before. “This adaptability is why [Wayve] aims to be the first to deploy self-driving technology in 100 cities,” said Microsoft.
“Microsoft is working with Wayve to help it develop advanced technology that could change the way people commute, move around cities and travel long distances,” said Michael Wignall, Azure business lead at Microsoft. “Azure enables a range of companies across many sectors to innovate, collaborate and achieve more, and we are delighted that Wayve has become the latest business to join this group.”