[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Kakao Mobility is embarking on the development of a Level 4 autonomous driving system by combining its proprietary autonomous driving artificial intelligence (AI) with NVIDIA’s high-performance computing, sensing, and safety technologies. The two companies plan to first apply and test this system on KIA CORPORATION(000270)’s purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) and subsequently expand it into actual autonomous driving services.

Kakao Mobility announced on the 9th that it has signed a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation on Autonomous Driving Technology” with NVIDIA.

The signing ceremony, held that day at The Westin Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was attended by Kim Jin-kyu, Vice President of the Physical AI Division at Kakao Mobility, and Gaurav Agawal, Senior Director of NVIDIA’s Automotive Business Unit, among others.

Through this collaboration, Kakao Mobility will integrate NVIDIA’s AI computing, sensing, and safety technologies into its proprietary autonomous driving AI model.

Kakao Mobility has been testing its proprietary autonomous driving technology in downtown Gangnam, Seoul, and plans to use this partnership to advance its Level 4 autonomous driving system and lay the technological foundation for large-scale service expansion.

Equipped with

Two NVIDIA ‘Thor’ Units… Advancing End-to-End Autonomous Driving

Kakao Mobility is gradually developing E2E (End-to-End) autonomous driving technology, which processes everything from perception to decision-making using a single AI model.

To this end, the company is introducing a high-performance Autonomous Driving Computing Unit (ADCU) equipped with two NVIDIA “DRIVE AGX Thor” units, capable of processing large-scale AI computations in real time.

For sensor and hardware connectivity, the company is utilizing NVIDIA’s “Hyperion” sensor and computing reference architecture.

The plan is to ensure compatibility and system stability among the vehicle, various sensors, and the ADCU, optimizing the system for a Level 4 autonomous driving environment.

NVIDIA’s integrated safety system, “Halos,” will also be applied to the development and validation of autonomous driving software. The company explains that it is establishing a framework to verify the safety of the autonomous driving system from the development stage through to actual service.

Combination of Kakao’s Software, NVIDIA’s Platform, and KIA CORPORATION’s PBV

The technology developed by the two companies will first be applied to KIA CORPORATION’s PBV. Based on the “Development of PBVs for Autonomous Driving Services” partnership signed with KIA CORPORATION last July, Kakao Mobility plans to use KIA CORPORATION’s PBV as the base vehicle for integrated technology development.

The plan is to combine Kakao Mobility’s proprietary autonomous driving software with NVIDIA’s AI computing, sensing, and safety technologies in KIA CORPORATION’s PBV to develop and supply vehicles for Level 4 autonomous driving services.

After validating the technology domestically, Kakao Mobility plans to explore opportunities to enter the global autonomous driving market in the medium to long term.

Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, said, “Through this collaboration with NVIDIA, we will not only accelerate the advancement of end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving but also prepare for the era of Level 4 commercialization as the hub of a global technology ecosystem connecting software, components, and finished vehicles.”

Rishi Dal, Vice President of NVIDIA’s Automotive Division, said, “NVIDIA Hyperion provides the sensor and computing technology foundation necessary for implementing Level 4 autonomous driving, while Halos supports a comprehensive safety system from technology development to actual service deployment,” adding, “We look forward to accelerating the development of safe and scalable autonomous driving services in Korea.”