Waabi and Volvo are teaming up to build self-driving trucks at scale, a partnership that promises to revolutionize the freight transportation industry with autonomous truck technology.
In a recent announcement, Waabi, a pioneer in generative AI for the physical world, and Volvo Autonomous Solutions have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deploy autonomous trucks. This collaboration combines Waabi’s innovative AI technology with Volvo’s expertise in automation and safety, aiming to introduce safer, more efficient, and sustainable freight transportation.
The Partnership Details
At the heart of this partnership is the integration of Waabi’s virtual driver system, known as the Waabi Driver, into Volvo’s autonomous truck, the Volvo VNL Autonomous. This integration is set to occur at Volvo’s flagship New River Valley assembly plant and will be based on Volvo’s autonomous technology platform. The goal is to support diverse operational needs and use cases across various Volvo Group truck brands.
According to Raquel Urtasun, Founder and CEO of Waabi, “Vertically integrating next-generation AI technology directly into an OEM’s vehicle production is the path forward to bring safe, robust autonomous vehicles to the road, at scale.” Urtasun highlighted that Volvo’s commitment to safety, engineering excellence, and forward-looking innovation makes them an ideal partner for realizing the future of self-driving trucks.
Technological Advancements
The partnership leverages Waabi’s cutting-edge AI technology, particularly its AV2.0 approach, which is based on an end-to-end interpretable and verifiable AI model powered by the industry’s most realistic neural simulator. This innovation enables autonomous trucks to safely generalize to different scenarios on the road.
Here are some key points about the technological advancements:
- Waabi’s AI model enhances the trucks’ ability to perceive and respond to various road scenarios.
- The integration with Volvo’s purpose-built autonomous truck platform ensures a safe and efficient autonomous solution.
- The partnership aims to transform the $1 trillion North American freight industry by enabling the deployment of autonomous trucks that redefine safety and efficiency standards.
Testing and Deployment
The two companies have been laying the groundwork for the integration of the Waabi Driver into the Volvo VNL Autonomous and are preparing for testing in 2025. This long-term strategic collaboration is expected to accelerate the scale of autonomous truck adoption in the United States.
Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, expressed excitement about integrating Waabi’s technology into their autonomous truck platform, emphasizing their joint commitment to developing safe, efficient, and scalable autonomous transport solutions.
With this partnership, Waabi and Volvo are poised to make significant strides in autonomous truck technology, ensuring that self-driving trucks will soon be a common sight on U.S. highways, enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the freight transportation industry. Waabi and Volvo are teaming up to build self-driving trucks at scale.
