On February 4, self-driving technology company Waabi announced a partnership with Volvo's driverless systems unit to collaborate on developing autonomous big rigs. With a focus on addressing cost reductions and driver shortages, the integration of Waabi's technology into Volvo's VNL Autonomous truck manufactured in Virginia aims to enhance road time for fleets.
Waabi, supported by Nvidia and Uber, will merge its virtual driver system, sensors, and computers with Volvo Autonomous Solutions. Waabi’s founder, Raquel Urtasun, highlighted the versatility of their technology, which extends beyond trucking to applications such as robotaxis and humanoid robots in the future.
Waabi utilizes its digital simulator, Waabi World, for training and testing, foreseeing commercial pilots in Texas within four years in collaboration with Uber Freight. Unlike Tesla, which relies on a vision-based method and imitation learning, Waabi's approach involves broader simulated scenarios for validation.
The non-exclusive partnership with Volvo signifies Waabi's intention to integrate its technology into other truck models. Urtasun emphasized the ripe market potential for autonomous trucking as an initial focus for the company. Volvo Group's venture capital arm's investment in Waabi underscores the growing support from investors like Khosla Ventures and Porsche Automobil Holding.