Honda Motor and U.S.-based autonomous driving AI firm Helm(dot)ai have reached an agreement to advance the development of Honda’s next-generation self-driving technologies, with a particular focus on enhancing its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) system.
The multi-year collaboration will concentrate on improving advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for consumer vehicles.
The partnership relies on Helm(dot)ai’s advanced real-time AI software, backed by its autolabelling and generative simulation foundation models, to strengthen development and validation efforts.
“This joint development supports Honda’s goal of realizing safe and affordable automated driving technologies for our global customers. Through our collaboration with Helm(dot)ai, we are advancing the development of AI technologies that enhance the real-world applicability of autonomous driving systems, bringing us closer to a future with zero traffic collision fatalities,” Honda’s Software Defined Vehicle Business Supervisory Unit VP, Mahito Shikama, said.
California-based Helm(dot)ai will supply a set of comprehensive technologies to enable highway and city autonomous driving modes.
The package includes its perception system, Helm(dot)ai Vision, along with generative simulation models such as VidGen-2 and WorldGen-1, and Helm(dot)ai Driver, an AI system designed for real-time path prediction using vision-based inputs.
Honda’s Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) system operates on an end-to-end (E2E) AI architecture that manages the entire driving process from detecting surroundings to making decisions and controlling the vehicle. According to Honda and Helm(dot)ai, NOA is a partially automated system that demands continuous driver supervision and is designed for use in both highway and complex urban environments.
Trained initially on large-scale multi-modal datasets, these systems are capable of meeting Honda’s standards for safe and scalable deployment. Honda plans to introduce the technology across its entire vehicle lineup by 2027.
As reported by Bloomberg, Honda has held a stake in Helm(dot)ai since 2021, including a $30 million investment during its early funding round. Founded in 2016, the Silicon Valley startup focuses on camera-based perception and simulation software and has raised over $100 million to date, collaborating with other automakers like Volkswagen.
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