The two companies will combine Mercedes-Benz engineering and its MB.OS operating system with NVIDIA's computing, sensor and safety technology.
Mercedes-Benz and NVIDIA have extended their strategic partnership to develop next-generation automated driving systems. The collaboration combines Mercedes-Benz engineering, its MB.OS operating system and NVIDIA's Hyperion computing and sensor architecture, with NVIDIA's Alpamayo Stack and Halos safety system. The companies say the work will support future SAE Level 4 applications, including robolimousines.
NVIDIA and Mercedes-Benz are extending their partnership into the next generation of automated driving. The companies say the work brings together Mercedes-Benz engineering and safety know-how, its MB.OS operating system, and NVIDIA's accelerated computing and AI technologies.
The technology stack
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| MB.OS | Operating system for new driving functions and over-the-air updates |
| NVIDIA Hyperion | In-vehicle computing and sensor architecture |
| NVIDIA Alpamayo Stack | Driving software with AI reasoning for urban assistance, active safety and automated parking |
| NVIDIA Halos | Parallel safety stack built on the Mercedes-Benz safety foundation |
Alpamayo is described as full-stack driving software with AI reasoning capabilities. Halos adds a separate parallel safety stack, which the companies say brings redundancy and guardrails to the system. Together, the parts are meant to support advanced driver assistance now and, later, SAE Level 4 applications, which the companies list as including robolimousines.
What the executives said
Joerg Burzer, a member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and chief technology officer for development and procurement, called NVIDIA the company's most important strategic partner in automated driving. He pointed to the first Mercedes-Benz assistance system for urban point-to-point driving in the Western world, which the two companies developed together. He said the aim is the best automated driving experience, held to the high safety standards customers expect from the brand.
Ali Kani, vice president of automotive at NVIDIA, said accelerated computing gives vehicles the ability to make sense of their surroundings and handle complex driving situations. He argued that Mercedes-Benz brings the engineering and commitment to safety that this change demands, and said the two companies are building on NVIDIA Hyperion to make automated driving an everyday reality.
Research base and what comes next
The work is closely tied to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, a US-based subsidiary established in 1994. That unit is responsible for autonomous driving, electric vehicles, connected car solutions and software development, among other areas, and works with headquarters in Germany and research sites around the world.
