Volvo Cars is leveraging AI-generated life-like virtual worlds to advance the development of its safety software, including driver assistance systems (ADAS), with the goal of creating safer vehicles.
By synthesizing incident data from advanced sensors in its cars, such as emergency braking, sharp steering, or manual interventions, Volvo can now reconstruct and explore these scenarios in new ways to better understand how to prevent accidents.
This breakthrough is made possible by Gaussian splatting, an advanced computational technique that creates realistic, high-fidelity 3D scenes from real-world visuals.
The virtual environment can be manipulated by adding or removing road users, altering traffic behavior, or introducing obstacles, enabling Volvo to test its safety software in diverse and complex scenarios at an unprecedented scale and speed.
“We already have millions of data points of moments that never happened that we use to develop our software,” says Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Global Software Engineering at Volvo Cars.
“Thanks to Gaussian splatting, we can select one of the rare corner cases and explode it into thousands of new variations of the scenario to train and validate our models against. This has the potential to unlock a scale that we’ve never had before and even to catch edge cases before they happen in the real world.”
Virtual testing complements real-world trials, offering a safe, scalable, and cost-efficient method for software development. Volvo collaborates with Zenseact, an AI and software company it founded, to create these environments.
The initiative is part of a PhD program with leading Swedish universities, sponsored by the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP), to explore neural rendering techniques for future safety innovations.
Volvo’s commitment to safety dates back decades, with its Safety Research team pioneering data-driven innovations since the 1970s.
Today, advanced technologies like Gaussian splatting and NVIDIA’s AI supercomputing platform, powered by NVIDIA DGX systems, enable Volvo to process vast amounts of sensor data, train safety models, and accelerate AI development. This integration is part of Volvo’s investment in one of the largest data centers in the Nordics, further solidifying its leadership in automotive safety.
Volvo Cars uses AI and virtual worlds with the aim to create safer cars
The EX30 is a strong contender in the sub-R1m EV category, alongside rivals such as the Mini Cooper SE Hatch, BYD Atto 3, GWM Ora 03 and EVA City Blitz. Image:Supplied
Is the Volvo EX30 capable of galvanising motorists, especially among the younger demographic, to switch to electric vehicles (EVs)?
This is a pertinent question, especially given the lukewarm local market reception for predecessors such as the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3.
The EX30 is a strong contender in the sub-R1m EV category, alongside rivals such as the Mini Cooper SE Hatch, BYD Atto 3, GWM Ora 03 and EVA City Blitz.
The number of EVs coming to South Africa is steadily increasing. At least eight new models are expected in 2024. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), EV sales in South Africa more than doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year. Sales of new-energy vehicles from 18 industry brands increased by 100.7% between the first quarter of 2023 and the second quarter.
With its sleek Scandinavian design and petite dimensions, the EX30 promises to capture the hearts of younger South Africans, especially those who are drawn to urban living.
As I witnessed first-hand during a visit to the Thaba Echo Village Lifestyle Centre incJohannesburg South, the EX30 attracted a lot of attention from young couples and professionals. They appeared intrigued by its modern aesthetics and 100% electric drive.
A common concern for potential buyers was the availability of the charging infrastructure. A young professional was overheard asking: “Where can I charge the car in my neighbourhood in Joburg South?”
That concern is being addressed, EV experts say. With initiatives such as GridCars’ nationwide network of over 350 charging points for EVs, the accessibility of charging facilities is steadily improving. EV manufacturers such as Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz are building more charging stations.
Besides, there is a dual GridCars’ charging station at Mall of the South, only 1.9km from Thaba Eco Village where potential buyers were marvelling at the EX30.
Given the load-shedding issues South Africa faces, building a charging infrastructure that is aligned with renewable energy sources is imperative.
As I left the Thaba Eco Village to drive home, I wondered if the EX30 would appeal to a younger clientele, the Gen Z and millennials.
When I took delivery of the EX30, it had about 320km on the odometer. I was curious about its capabilities and undertook a five-day test drive, simulating a daily drive from Thaba Eco Village to Sandton City, covering a distance of 29km each way. Remarkably, after a week of driving, the car had only used up 290km of its range, leaving me with 30km to go. I then drove to Mall of the South to fully charge the car, which increased the range to close to 460km.
