EMERGING TECH
EMERGING TECH
EMERGING TECH
Siemens enters the business of simulating self-driving cars
Autonomous navigation systems are fairly rough around the edges at this point in time, which requires automakers such as Tesla Inc. to perform extensive testing before shipping them out with their vehicles. Siemens AG is hoping to streamline the task.
The German industrial giant today announced that it has acquired Tass International Software and Services B.V., a Dutch provider of vehicle simulation tools. Its PreScan platform is used by automakers to evaluate their self-driving cars and automated driver safety systems.
The software enables engineers to experiment with virtual replicas of a vehicle that mimic its sensory capabilities. PreScan can be used simulate cameras, radar arrays and many other of the components that may be found in a self-driving car. From there, graphical controls provide the ability to place the simulated vehicle on a virtual road to see how the subsystems perform under different traffic conditions.
Assessing a car’s capabilities in a software environment is often faster than a real-world evaluation. As a result, automakers gain the ability to reduce testing times and bring their bring autonomous navigation systems to market sooner. Meanwhile, the parts of the evaluation process that require true-to-life accuracy can be done the old-fashioned way.
Tass offers PreScan alongside applications for testing vehicle safety and tire designs. Siemens intends to integrate the Dutch firm’s assets, which also include a professional services practice, into its PLM Software Business Unit.
The deal buys the industrial giant an early presence in a market that could become incredibly lucrative in the long run. Major automakers and tech giants such as Intel Corp. are investing heavily to develop self-driving cars. Intel recently dropped $15.3 billion to acquire autonomous navigation specialist Mobileye NV. If their collective efforts bear fruit, driverless transportation could become the new norm in a few decades.
Tass will make a more immediate contribution to Siemens’ bottom line as well. Reuters reported that the Dutch firm generates about 27 million euros ($32.3 million) in annual revenues and has about 200 employees.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Image: StockSnap
A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:
Support our mission to keep content open and free by engaging with theCUBE community. Join theCUBE’s Alumni Trust Network, where technology leaders connect, share intelligence and create opportunities.
- 15M+ viewers of theCUBE videos, powering conversations across AI, cloud, cybersecurity and more
- 11.4k+ theCUBE alumni — Connect with more than 11,400 tech and business leaders shaping the future through a unique trusted-based network.
About SiliconANGLE Media
SiliconANGLE Media is a recognized leader in digital media innovation, uniting breakthrough technology, strategic insights and real-time audience engagement. As the parent company of SiliconANGLE, theCUBE Network, theCUBE Research, CUBE365, theCUBE AI and theCUBE SuperStudios — with flagship locations in Silicon Valley and the New York Stock Exchange — SiliconANGLE Media operates at the intersection of media, technology and AI.
Founded by tech visionaries John Furrier and Dave Vellante, SiliconANGLE Media has built a dynamic ecosystem of industry-leading digital media brands that reach 15+ million elite tech professionals. Our new proprietary theCUBE AI Video Cloud is breaking ground in audience interaction, leveraging theCUBEai.com neural network to help technology companies make data-driven decisions and stay at the forefront of industry conversations.
