Ford is part of a group of investors that will put down $6.6 million USD to support startup Civil Maps, a California-based, Stanford University-sponsored company that develops advanced 3D mapping for self-driving cars.
Civil Maps says it utilizes artificial intelligence and vehicle-based local processing to convert raw sensor data into meaningful map information built specifically to direct fully autonomous vehicles. And thanks to its light data footprint, Civil Maps’ spatial information is far less costly to transmit over cellular networks.
“Autonomous vehicles require a totally new kind of map,” said company CEO Sravan Puttagunta.
“Civil Maps’ pioneering mapping technology is building the backbone of our fully autonomous future,” added Jim DiSanto, managing director of Motus Ventures. “By creating a living history of all the roads in America, the company is playing a pivotal role in creating a safer and more comfortable self-driving car experience that will drive widespread adoption".
