LAS VEGAS—Kicking off this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Nvidia unveiled its latest mobile system-on-a-chip, the Tegra X1. But beyond blistering frame rates and improved power efficiency, Nvidia has its sights set on the automotive world. In particular, Nvidia hopes its latest solutions will dramatically improve self-driving car systems.
As the number of displays within cars increases, Nvidia believes it is best suited to drive all those extra pixels. That includes everything from customizable digital cockpits to smart mirrors and displays in every imaginable corner of the car cabin. The two main solutions introduced are Drive CX and Drive PX.
Drive CX is a platform for creating bold, new infotainment systems that are more intuitive and more visually impressive. Nvidia built its own rendering engine called "Studio," which it believes will enable designers to realize their greatest dreams when it comes to in-car information. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang described it as bringing the world of Tron to life. The on-stage demo showcased impressive real-time navigation with 3D buildings and dynamic lighting. Nvidia touted its end-to-end solution, creating everything from the processor to the software development tools.
Drive PX is a more ambitious project, leveraging the power of the Tegra X1 platform to improve natural learning and object recognition for self-driving car systems. Instead of separate radar, ultrasound, and cameras, Nvidia believes its Drive PX system can use less expensive and more accurate cameras and algorithms to achieve even more impressive results. Recognition is just the start, claimed Huang, with the end goal of advanced situational awareness and path planning. Context and learning are key here.
This was first and foremost a showcase of the power and versatility of the Tegra X1 platform, but Nvidia makes a compelling case for its vision for cars of the future. Nvidia also announced a new partnership with Audi to develop this self-driving car system, giving even more weight to the newly minted platform.
For more, check out PCMag's Hands On With Nvidia's New Tegra X1 Superchip.