Horizon Robotics – Global SERS

“AI on horizon, journey together”

Founded: 2015, Beijing, China

Category: Artificial Intelligence

Primary office:Beijing, China

Core technical team: Beijing, China

Status: Private

Employees: 300 est. (2020)

Amount raised:USD$700.3 million (Series B, 2019)

OVERVIEW

Mission – establish the leading “edge AI platform” to make human life safer and better
Vision – Leader of the edge AI platform space
Powerful AI edge computing capabilities with primary focus on autonomous driving and cockpit experience
Competencies in artificial intelligence, deep learning, AI processors, embedded AI and AI Internet of Things (AIoT)

PERFORMANCE METRICS

ACHIEVEMENTS

Matrix platform named CES 2018 innovation awards honoree (2018)
Only Chinese AI processor company on CB Insights AI 100 (2019)
Matrix receives best automotive solution award (2019)
Significant investments from major processor companies and automobile manufacturers (up to 2019)

Journey 2 (Automotive AI processor series) – AI processor for the automotive industry – when paired with Horizon optimized perception algorithms achieve high deep learning (brain processing units) core utilization. (Autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit experiences
Sunrise 2 (AIoT AI processor series) – Powerful processor in AIoT space – supports visual recognition, data processing and video structuring and applicable to a wide-range of AIoT scenarios. Works well as an edge computing device
Matrix – autonomous driving computing platform – low power, high-performance system suitable for all levels of autonomous driving; incorporates Journey 2 processor to run optimized deep learning perception algorithms
Nebula – intelligent vehicle active safety solution – full stack AI solution that includes advanced driver assistance system, driver monitoring system, facial recognition, intelligent speech front-end, etc.
Smart mobility – Horizon AI processing platform – high performance at low power for Tier 1s, OEMs and AV startups for autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit.
AIoT Vision – combined with powerful edge AI computing capability is a complete visual perception system and data analysis system.
AIoT Speech – Speech technologies can be customized for portable devices, home applications, in-vehicle applications, etc.

Provides integrated and open embedded Artificial Intelligence solutions
Strategic partnerships such as with (i) Gosuncn Technology Group for join T&D advancing the development and marketing of the advanced driver assistance system, the driver behavior monitoring system, cockpit, etc. Is to have a global partner of artificial intelligence and will jointly work on technology research, product development and marketing of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Driver Behavior Monitoring System (DMS), AI cockpit, automatic drive techniques, etc.; and (ii) Freetech, a leading Asian Tier 1, to accelerate the development and mass production of the advanced driver assistance system for the Chinese market.
Involvement in conferences and co-founding of AI R&D lab
Agreements with Tier 1s, OEMs and AV Start-ups to create unique autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit experiences Autonomous
Availability of open tool chain to define workflow and ease model training, optimization and deployment at the edge.

Type

AI use

Co-established the Nanjing Institute of Advanced Artificial Intelligence (R&D)
Insertion of chips/software into Tier 1, OEM and AV Start-up in support of autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit experiences Autonomous

Rate of Return on Investment

Immediate term:

Advances in autonomous driving and intelligent cockpit, with potential integration in Leve 1+ autonomous driving

Long term:

Move towards Level 4 autonomous driving, with full integration into automotive manufactures products

Quantum Computing

No explicit mention of quantum computing in Horizon Robotics collateral. Generically, quantum computing is expected to enable artificial intelligence by, for example, handling huge amounts of data, building better models and more accurate algorithms, and using multiple datasets (integrating datasets more quickly

Assets

AI industry and processor industry experts and veterans
Brain Processing Unit ™ – innovative AI computing architecture focused on edge AI applications
Large collection of investors (including US and Chinese investors)
Substantial investment/partnerships with key processor and automobile companies (Tier 1s)

Processes

Developing algorithms and processors that can be embedded in Tier 1, etc., automotive and other IoT products and services
Learn from ongoing AI R&D, especially from Nanjing Institute of Advanced Artificial Intelligence and other partners

Priorities

Continue to hire top talent
Furtherance of technology development – R&D
Expand sales and marketing
By 2025, to be number 1 on deployed autonomous vehicles chips (30 million vehicles)