Nvidia has announced a $10 million investment in Serve Robotics, a company specializing in delivery robots set up by Uber after its acquisition of Postmates in 2020. This financing should strengthen the already existing partnership between the two companies.
Serve Robotics robots integrate Nvidia technologies
There are several approaches to navigating a delivery robot. While some companies prefer remote operators to drive devices to their destination, Serve Robotics has chosen 100% autonomous, which requires highly developed technology, especially on sidewalks, as Ali Kashani, co-founder, explains. and CEO of Serve Robotics: “ The sidewalk is more chaotic than the street. We even interacted with goats. The randomness of what you see on a sidewalk is an order of magnitude greater than on the road. If you think about it, on the road, cars have a distinct set of actions – they change lanes, they brake and they accelerate. When you hit the pavement, anything can happen at any time, and you have to be ready for it. So, interestingly, it’s actually more difficult. The advantage, of course, is that things happen more slowly and you have more time to react. “.
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To move efficiently, Serve Robotics robots are equipped with Nvidia’s Jetson Edge AI platform. The startup also uses Nvidia’s perception and mapping tools, which help its robots understand where they are in the environment and where they need to go. In addition, Serve Robotics tests its models in simulation before putting them on the road, which, like real-world testing, requires dozens of data and photorealistic city maps. Here too, Nvidia provides synthetic data generation tools for training perceptual models, explains TechCrunch.
Serve Robotics robots are able to operate in specific areas without a remote operator. Image: Serve Robotics
” Nvidia’s investment is rooted in a long-standing partnership with Serve that uses various technologies from us, from edge to cloud-based technologies. What excites us is the prospect of working closely with Serve to push the boundaries of what is possible on last mile delivery issues. “said Gerard Andrews, senior manager of robotics product marketing at Nvidia, to the American media.
win-win
The various Nvidia tools used by Serve Robotics are part of a suite called Isaac and specially designed for the simulation and robotic management of the fleet. Through her collaboration with Serve, she hopes to improve her product.
” We see ourselves as a company that is at the forefront of autonomy and scaling true autonomous robots in the real world. Nvidia is one of the most critical companies for the robotics space as a whole, and they’re investing in tools as well, so it just makes sense for us to work closely together given that it’s a space in development “said Ali Kashani.
This investment from Nvidia, which recently saw its revenues increase by 53%, demonstrates the tech sector’s interest in delivery robots, solutions that are increasingly tested across the Atlantic and are already present. in several states of the country.