Robots.
Much has been speculated about Tesla’s AI Day, and I’m sure there will be some surprises despite vast prognostications from all corners of the globe. But there’s a common thread coursing through all of the predictions. Tesla, arguably an energy company at its core, has become a robotics company and central to that realization are big bets on machine vision and intelligence capable of mimicking or even bettering human sight. Intelligent vision is the last nut to crack on the landscape of artificial intelligence and there’s plenty of evidence Tesla has taken this challenge seriously.
Now released into the wild, Tesla’s Full Self Driving feature demonstrates the level of focus it has on visual acuity, a field within AI that sets it apart from all other automobile manufacturers. It is this focus that has subliminally elevated the company’s strategic advantages leaving competitors pursuing what is perceived as an easier pathway with greater dependence on hardware, specifically LiDAR.
And in cars, it's (LiDAR) friggin’ stupid - Elon Musk
But what does Elon really think?
Apparently, when utilized in other contexts it might be friggin’ smart. SpaceX uses a LiDAR system for docking. Elon personally made that happen. But LiDAR is a bit pricey and even if the costs continue to plummet, LiDAR (laser imaging, detection, and ranging) still requires significantly more computational power and where Tesla is likely to take robotics, added costs and more TOPS are incongruent with business requirements. Think small - LiDAR doesn’t fit, but software does.
Without question, Tesla engineers know that vision sensors are capable of serving as proxies for dozens, perhaps thousands of IoT sensors. It is this capacity for virtualizing awareness that will expand the horizon for robotics and vehicles are simply one class of robots. Vision sensors coupled with advanced AI models provide the pathway for IoT virtualization which is fundamentally how we use our eyes every second of every awakened moment of our lives.
Machine vision has the capacity to reduce significant cost and dependencies on physical sensors.
From its inception, Stream It has placed heavy bets on machine vision which is made evident from our coined tag line - the Internet of Recognition - to deep research and investments in vision sensors and camera architectures that transcend the possibilities of IoT. Visual acuity in robotics is highly dependent on the ability to transform pixels into meaningful awareness, and this begins at the sensor, a realm where Stream It engineering excels.
CyberLandr™ arose as an extension to Cybertruck which is certainly robot-like, but it is also a mobile energy platform. In many ways, CyberLandr™ is in the robotics class as well - it expands and contracts in the truck's bed, it cools, it heats, and it recirculates and filters water. CyberLandr™ is designed to perform many processes that typically distract humans from the experiences they really want enjoy. As such, it should come as no surprise that CyberLandr™ also includes advanced vision sensors because - at its core - it must leverage visual acuity to be helpful in your adventures.
Essential vision-related aspects include security access to the cabin, detecting presence inside the cabin, and reactions to gestures in similar fashion to home automation features. Perhaps raise the interior lights when you enter at night; raise the exterior lights when exiting.
By simply observing your behaviors, CyberLandr™ may eventually anticipate patterns to make life on the road more pleasant. For example - when you leave your campsite, an AI-driven feature could dial back the interior cooling to preserve energy. When you return, vision sensors could signal CyberLandr™ to lower the temprature on a hot day or warm it up on a cold day. Imagine an AI feature that recognizes a great sunrise and captures it while you sleep in. Or a family campfire full of memorable moments.
Machine vision is a key factor in the march toward greater intelligence that will provide more comfort, increased safety, and enjoyment.
AI Day 2021 is likely to unleash a vastly deeper understanding of how vision and AI change everything.