Tesla is reportedly buying a computer-vision company to help it make the technology for self-driving cars
- Tesla is acquiring the computer-vision startup DeepScale, CNBC's Lora Kolodny reported.
- Forrest Iandola, DeepScale's CEO, said on LinkedIn that he joined Tesla's Autopilot team this week.
- Tesla's attempt to develop autonomous-driving technology relies heavily on cameras.
- According to CNBC, DeepScale's technology is designed to enable high-quality computer vision while using processors that require a low amount of power.
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Tesla is acquiring the computer-vision startup DeepScale, CNBC's Lora Kolodny reported.
Forrest Iandola, DeepScale's CEO, said on LinkedIn that he joined Tesla's Autopilot team this week. According to Iandola's profile, his job title is "senior staff machine learning scientist."
Tesla and DeepScale did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.
Read more: Former Tesla employees reveal what it's like to work with Elon Musk
Tesla's attempt to develop autonomous-driving technology relies heavily on cameras, because the electric-car maker is not using the lidar sensors most of its rivals include in their autonomous-driving hardware suites. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has called lidar sensors, which send out pulses of light to detect objects around them, a crutch that is not necessary for vehicles to drive without human assistance.
The company is betting that if its cars can see and perceive their surroundings quickly and accurately enough, they won't need lidar. According to CNBC, DeepScale's technology is designed to enable high-quality computer vision while using processors that require a low amount of power.
DeepScale had raised $21 million as of April 2018, according to PitchBook.
Read CNBC's full story here »
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