Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
In a recent fireside chat, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang joined Zoox CEO Aicha Evans and Zoox cofounder and CTO Jesse Levinson to celebrate Zoox’s 10th anniversary. They discussed the progress and innovations in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and took a ride in Zoox’s robotaxi, highlighting the decade-long collaboration between the two companies.
Key Highlights:
- Zoox has pioneered a robotaxi purpose-built for ride-hailing.
- NVIDIA GPUs provide the computing power for Zoox’s autonomous capabilities.
- Zoox uses extensive simulations to develop and test its AV technology.
- Unique bidirectional design of Zoox robotaxi enhances passenger comfort and safety.
- Projected growth in the robotaxi market is significant, with millions of deployments expected by 2035.
A Decade of Collaboration
Jensen Huang stated, “The world has never seen a robotics company like this before,” emphasizing Zoox’s unique approach as a sustainable robotics company. Since its inception in 2014, Zoox has focused on creating fully autonomous, bidirectional vehicles designed specifically for ride-hailing, setting it apart from others in the industry that retrofit existing cars with self-driving technology.
Computing at the Core
Zoox robotaxis are essentially supercomputers on wheels, equipped with multiple NVIDIA GPUs to process vast amounts of data generated by sensors, including cameras, lidar, radar, infrared sensors, and microphones. This data is processed by the onboard computing system to understand the vehicle’s surroundings and navigate complex urban environments safely.
Simulation as a Virtual Proving Ground
Simulation plays a critical role in Zoox’s AV development. Using NVIDIA GPUs and software tools, Zoox runs various simulations to test its autonomous systems in virtual environments before real-world deployment. These simulations include synthetic scenarios, real-world scenario replays, and adversarial simulations to push the limits of the autonomous systems.
“We’ve been using NVIDIA hardware since the very start,” said Levinson. “It’s a huge part of our simulator, and we rely on NVIDIA GPUs in the vehicle to process everything around us in real time.”
Innovative Design for Comfort and Safety
Zoox’s robotaxi features a unique bidirectional design with carriage-style seating, eliminating the traditional front and back of a car. This design optimizes the vehicle for autonomous operation and ensures equal comfort and safety for all passengers.
“I came to visit you when you were zero years old, and the vision was compelling,” Huang reflected on Zoox’s journey. “The challenge was incredible. The technology, the talent — it is all world-class.”
Future Projections
As the AV industry grows, projections indicate a significant increase in robotaxi deployments. Guidehouse Insights forecasts over 5 million robotaxi deployments by 2030, with nearly 34 million by 2035. Zoox is among a select few companies with permits to test AVs without safety drivers in California, reflecting its advanced technology and leadership in the industry.
Using NVIDIA GPUs and tools, Zoox is set to redefine urban mobility, pioneering a future of safe, efficient, and sustainable autonomous transportation for all.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
