Ushr to Showcase HD Map Technology in the Transportation Category
DETROIT (Feb. 7, 2018) —Ushr Inc., creator of high-definition (HD) mapping technology and software for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, was selected as a finalist in the Transportation category for the 10th annual SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event®.
The SXSW Accelerator is the marquee event of South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals (March 9-18, 2018) Startup & Tech Sectors Track, where leading startups from around the world showcase some of the most impressive technology innovations to a panel of hand-picked judges and a live audience. Out of the more than 600 companies that applied to present at SXSW Accelerator, Ushr was selected among the 50 finalists spanning 10 separate categories.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to present our HD map technology for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles which is enabling the next generation of self-driving features,” said Chris Thibodeau, Senior Vice President of Ushr.
Indeed, Ushr is now the first-to-market provider of HD mapping technology in an OEM production vehicle with the implementation of its precision HD map platform in the new Cadillac Super Cruise™ hands-free highway-driving feature. Using high precision LiDAR technology, Ushr has mapped all road features of every mile of limited-access highway in the U.S. and Canada to under four inches in a global coordinate frame. When combined with the real-time data from cameras and GPS sensors, Ushr’s HD maps allow self-driving cars to operate on limited access highways, while also providing smooth control through curves and allowing the vehicle to anticipate roadway changes.
The two-day Accelerator Pitch Event will be held the first weekend of SXSW Conference & Festivals, Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11. The Pitch Event will then culminate with the SXSW Accelerator Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, March 11, where winning startups from each category and a Best in Show winner will be announced and honored.
The Accelerator will feature finalists across the following 10 categories: Augmented & Virtual Reality, Enterprise & Smart Data, Entertainment & Content, Health & Wearables, Hyper-Connected Communities, Payment & FinTech, Security & Privacy, Social & Culture, Sports & Performance Data, and Transportation.
“For the past decade, we’ve had the honor of offering a platform to some of the most cutting-edge global technologies and innovations – allowing CEOs and developers to present their solutions to investors, potential partners and key targets,” said SXSW Accelerator Event Producer Chris Valentine. “Of those who’ve presented on stage, over 70% have gone on to receive funding in excess of nearly $4.63 billion. In addition, 16% of these companies went on to be acquired. We look forward to once again being a launching pad for startups to achieve some of their greatest successes. All of us with SXSW Accelerator are proud and impressed by the companies who are truly changing industries and changing the world.”
Ushr will present among four other companies in the Transportation category on March 10th.
For more information about SXSW Accelerator and to view the complete list of finalists, visit: http://www.sxsw.com/interactive/awards/accelerator.
Ushr Inc. offers automotive manufacturers the most accurate, comprehensive and advanced high-definition map technology available on the market today. Located at the epicenter of automotive development in Detroit, Ushr’s technology and software are shaping the evolution of self-driving technology by providing customers with the reassurance that the paths their vehicles travel are safe, smart and predictable. For more information, please visit www.ushrauto.com.
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2018 will take place March 9-18, 2018.
MEDIA CONTACT
Molly Merluzzi | pr@ushrauto.com
With 2018 Cadillac CT6, Ushr Becomes the First-to-Market HD Map Provider in a Production Vehicle
DETROIT (Oct. 18, 2017) —Ushr Inc., creator of high-definition (HD) mapping technology and software for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, today announced that its precision HD map platform has been implemented in the new Cadillac Super Cruise™ hands-free highway driving feature. With the recent release of the 2018 Cadillac CT6, Ushr also becomes the first-to-market provider of HD mapping technology in an OEM production vehicle.
The HD mapping data provides high accuracy and high quality road information that, when combined with the real-time data from cameras and GPS sensors, ensures Super Cruise can operate on limited access highways, while also providing smooth control through curves, enhancing user comfort.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with automakers like GM and Cadillac on the future of hands-free driving,” said Bruce Gordon, Ushr CEO. “Super Cruise™ is the first assisted driving technology that will use Ushr’s precision LiDAR map data in addition to real-time cameras, sensors and GPS.”
In 2013, numerous test drives traversing hundreds of miles were completed comparing vehicle performance using the Ushr mapping technology and other competitor platforms. The test results showed Ushr significantly outperformed the competitive alternatives and the Ushr platform was chosen, in part, due to the critical need for enhanced accuracy to ensure passenger safety.
“Ushr’s HD mapping plays a critical role in assuring that Super Cruise operates as promised,” said Jon Lauckner, Chief Technology Officer, General Motors. “We knew at a very early stage that high-definition mapping was critical for Super Cruise and there were few companies who could provide reliable data and that’s why GM Ventures invested in Ushr.”
Using high precision LiDAR technology, Ushr has mapped all road features of every mile of limited-access highway in the U.S. and Canada to under four inches in a global coordinate frame. Ushr will collect roadway changes on an ongoing basis and provide frequent updates to GM.
Ushr, Inc. is shaping the evolution of autonomous vehicle control by providing software that enables the most precise, high-definition map and associated technology for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on the market today. By interpreting and communicating street level detail, Ushr analyzes and anticipates travel conditions—giving drivers and passengers confidence, comfort and peace of mind. For more information, please visit ushrauto.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Molly Merluzzi | pr@ushrauto.com
GeoDigital Spin-Off to Focus on HD Mapping Technology for Autonomous Vehicles
DETROIT (Sept. 18, 2017) —Ushr Inc., creator and provider of the most precise, high-definition (HD) mapping technology and software for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles currently available, today announced that it has secured $10 million in Series A funding, commensurate with its spin-off from GeoDigital, Inc. Forté Ventures led the investment round with participation from EnerTech Capital, Emerald Technology Ventures, and GM Ventures.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in mapping engineering structures, power lines, railways and roadways, the Ushr team spent the past three years developing the first production HD map software for autonomous driving. Now having mapped the entire U.S. and Canada controlled access highway network with under four inches deviation, Ushr’s platform provides the most accurate long and medium-distance sensing systems to enable autonomous vehicles (AVs) to safely navigate roadways.
“Ushr provides a long-range view that allows the vehicle to proactively plan safer routes and anticipate roadway changes instead of merely reacting to sensor inputs,” said Bruce Gordon, Ushr CEO. “In a recent road test comparison, our nearest competition had dozens of lane touches and several crossovers; our maps had zero touches and zero crossovers.”
Ushr’s HD mapping technology in combination with vehicle sensors and on-road cameras conveys “real world” detail to AVs. The company’s control algorithms are constantly interpreting and communicating key details from sensors to the vehicle control system, allowing for more precise steering, safer vehicle control and directional predictability.
The technology currently applies to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) but has a role in every stage of development within the autonomous driving technology spectrum. Presently, Ushr is working with major automotive manufacturers and suppliers, including General Motors (GM), to integrate Ushr software and map technology into future products.
“Ushr’s mapping data is an important piece of GM’s technology as we work on the path toward self-driving vehicles and these kinds of innovations bring us closer to that vision,” said Sherwin Prior, Managing Director at GM Ventures.
The Series A investment will allow Ushr to advance the development of lower cost data acquisition technologies and of automated map production using artificial intelligence techniques; to build a fleet of data collection vehicles; and to test in-vehicle software on automotive grade embedded hardware.
Ushr, Inc. is shaping the evolution of autonomous vehicle navigation by providing the most precise, high-definition mapping technology and software for autonomous vehicles on the market today. By interpreting and communicating street view navigation, Ushr enables autonomous vehicle passengers to travel from Point A to Point B as safely and as efficiently as possible. Founded in June of 2017, Ushr is a spin-off of GeoDigital, Inc. and is based in Detroit; for more information, please visit ushrauto.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Molly Merluzzi | pr@ushrauto.com