Hyundai Mobis invests in StradVision, an AI Sensor Startup

To reinforce its competitiveness in core technologies of future vehicles, Hyundai Mobis has decided to invest in a promising startup in this field. The firm aims to evolve into a software-centred technology company by establishing extensive partnership with competitive vendors in the fields of future vehicles such as self-driving and connectivity.

Hyundai Mobis made an equity investment agreement with StradVision, a Korean startup, which possesses deep learning-based camera image detection technology. The firm will invest KRW8 billion (7.15 million) in this startup.

With this investment, Hyundai Mobis aims to work with StradVision for developing advanced camera detection technology required to build safe self-driving systems. Cooperating with startups possessing promising technology is also meaningful in terms of shared growth.

StradVision has developed a software solution that uses deep learning to recognise pedestrians and even texts on road signs. Established in 2014, the ICT firm is armed with experts specialising in software.

The performance of the deep learning-based image detection technology developed by StradVision is regarded as top-notch in the field of front detection camera. The deep learning-based object detection technology is excellent at accurately recognising not only distant objects but also overlapped ones; it can distinguish one object from another, for instance, between vehicles and pedestrians or between pedestrians and bicycles, and utilises that information as data for safe driving.

It can also read the movement patterns of vehicles and the posture of pedestrians and predict a situation in advance. StradVision is also deemed to be superior to other domestic and foreign firms utilising deep-learning image detection technology in terms of a high-efficiency algorithm optimised for vehicles.

StradVision possesses 14 patents, including a method for rapidly reading texts embedded in images, fast parallel data processing and detection accuracy enhancement technology, with 10 of them having been registered in the U.S.

As an automotive supplier, Hyundai Mobis is expected to make great strides in deep learning camera detection through technical synergy with StradVision.

With this investment, the firm aims to secure its own technology in camera following its achievement in radar. Paying attention to deep learning, which is the core of AI technology, the firm will strive to gain a competitive edge in sensor technology for self-driving vehicle.

Hyundai Mobis plans to develop a deep learning-based camera by 2020, thereby securing unmatched competitiveness in sensor technology for self-driving.