Applied Intuition
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How Luminar Accelerates ADAS Testing With First Validated Sensor Models of Its Lidar
Luminar Technologies and Applied Intuition are partnering to provide the first validated sensor models of Luminar lidars for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD) simulation. This partnership aims to offer automakers access to high-fidelity lidar data for inclusion in their simulations. Automakers will be able to use Applied Intuition’s sensor simulator Sensor Sim to validate their lidar-based ADAS or AD software in virtual environments while reducing the need for expensive real-world tests.
Luminar uses Applied Intuition’s simulation tools to develop its ADAS stack, Sentinel. Sentinel provides a fully redundant, AI- and geometric-based safety solution that can dramatically reduce vehicle accidents and injuries. With the integration of Sentinel and Object Sim, Luminar can now run the full Sentinel pipeline within the virtual environment, controlling simulated vehicles in the same manner as real-world vehicles, including acceleration, steering, and braking. Through closed-loop simulation, Luminar can easily develop against and validate the edge cases of real-world driving scenarios that are challenging for perception systems and active safety functions.
Applied Intuition Grows to $6 Billion Valuation, Securing $250 Million in Series E Funding to Advance Vehicle Software and AI Capabilities
Applied Intuition, Inc., a vehicle software supplier for automotive, trucking, construction, mining, agriculture, and other industries, has raised a $250 million Series E financing round at a $6 billion valuation. The round was led by Bilal Zuberi at Lux Capital (Series C lead investor), Elad Gil (Series D lead investor), and strategic investor Porsche Investments Management S.A. representing the well-known successful sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Applied Intuition also announced the following new and existing investors: Andreessen Horowitz (Series A lead investor), General Catalyst (Series B lead investor), Mary Meeker at BOND, Human Capital, Henry Kravis, Mustafa Suleyman, Ray Dalio, John Quinn, and Nico Rosberg.
Applied Intuition has maintained sustainable triple-digit percentage growth year-over-year, profitably. It has expanded beyond its Silicon Valley headquarters to Detroit, Washington, D.C., Germany, Korea, and Japan and has customers worldwide, including 18 of the top 20 automotive OEMs.
The company will use the financing to make significant investments in generative AI to unlock substantial value for customers and partners. With recent advancements in large language models (LLMs), Applied Intuition is uniquely positioned to help its customers revolutionize the vehicle software development process. The company will continue to recruit the world’s best software and AI engineers to further expand its offerings that enable its customers to have the world’s most advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD) solutions.
Applied Intuition Continues Long-Standing Partnership With Virtual Mechanics Corporation for Providing CarSim Products in Japan
Applied Intuition is continuing a 23-year-long partnership with Virtual Mechanics Corporation. Since 1999, Virtual Mechanics has been a distributor for Mechanical Simulation Corporation products in the Japanese market and has been providing excellent technical support to CarSim users.
Mechanical Simulation—most commonly known for its flagship product, CarSim—is a technology leader in vehicle dynamics simulation software. Applied Intuition acquired Mechanical Simulation earlier this year.
Caterpillar Collaborates With Applied Intuition on Virtual Testing of Autonomous Machines
Applied Intuition and Caterpillar, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, are collaborating to accelerate the testing of autonomous systems.
Applied Intuition offers physics-based simulation software that supports virtual testing. Caterpillar has been in the autonomy space for 30 years and recently announced the milestone of 500+ CAT® autonomous mining trucks in operation globally. The company also provides customers with the building blocks leading up to fully autonomous systems, including remote control and semi-autonomy for several applications such as dozing, loading, excavation, and compaction.
Applied Intuition’s software tools produce a virtual setting that allows Caterpillar to securely explore algorithms and test unique industry use cases—everything from pedestrian detection to pallet pickup and drop-off on construction sites—in dynamic, off-road environments.
Applied Intuition Partners With Nissan to Improve the Safety and Scalability of Advanced Driver-Assistance Technology
Applied Intuition has partnered with Nissan on the development of an automated collision avoidance system aimed to reduce accidents and improve safety.
Nissan announced the development of a new driver-assistance technology that can automatically perform collision avoidance maneuvers. The company utilizes Applied’s simulation tools to test, validate, and deploy its automated collision avoidance system at scale.