NVIDIA Unveils Cloud Platform to Test Self-Driving Cars in Virtual Reality
NVIDIA introduces DRIVE Constellation, a cloud-based simulation system that tests autonomous vehicles across billions of virtual miles to ensure real-world safety. The platform uses a dual-server setup to generate photorealistic sensor data and validate driving software without physical road risks.
NVIDIA introduces DRIVE Constellation, a cloud-based computing platform designed to test autonomous vehicles safely through photorealistic virtual reality simulation. Announced at GTC 2018, this system provides a highly scalable alternative to physical road testing by allowing developers to validate self-driving technology entirely in the cloud.
The platform utilizes a dual-server architecture that works together to create a complete digital feedback loop. One server runs NVIDIA DRIVE Sim software to generate realistic sensor data like cameras, lidar, and radar, while the second server houses an NVIDIA DRIVE Pegasus AI car computer that processes this data exactly as it would in a real vehicle. This hardware-in-the-loop cycle occurs 30 times per second to verify that the driving algorithms operate correctly.
This virtual approach allows engineers to test billions of driving miles in a fraction of the time and cost required for physical road tests. The simulation software creates diverse and dangerous environments, including severe weather conditions, blinding glare, and various road terrains, enabling developers to safely script and practice rare corner cases without putting anyone in harm's way.