Hailo Technologies Ltd designs and develops microprocessor. The Company focuses on building AI processors to compute and interpret vast amounts of data in realtime processors that can be embedded in the edge devices themselves. The integration of AI technology is already proving transformative for the global automotive industry by offering high-performance, cost-effective, robust, and scalable solutions for automated driving and parking. During an interaction with Vidushi, Yaniv Sulkes, VP of Automotive at Hailo discussed the future of autonomous driving and the pivotal role that advanced AI technology.
Q. Can you elaborate on how the integration of the Hailo-8 AI accelerator and the Renesas R-Car V4H SoC in the iMotion iDC High domain controller enhances the capabilities of autonomous driving solutions?
Hailo processors efficiently enable processing of advanced AI models for ADAS/AD perception (e.g., 3D object detection) and in-cabin experience (e.g., large language models) with minimal power consumption and cost, making them accessible for widespread vehicle integration.
Hailo provides maximum flexibility and AI compute scalability in ADAS/AD Electronic Control Unit (ECU) design by integrating with the Renesas R-Car V4H System-on-Chip (SoC) and a single or multiple Hailo-8 AI processors, depending on the number of sensors and complexity of models.
The combined Hailo and Renesas solution is more cost-effective than any other alternatives on the market. Additionally, it offers increased scalability and flexibility, as the AI processing dimension operates independently from other compute domains such as the CPU and DSP.
Q. What specific challenges does Hailo’s AI technology address in the context of mass adoption of autonomous driving?
In the rapidly growing landscape of autonomous driving and ADAS, accessibility to advanced features has been predominantly limited to high-end vehicles. Hailo’s AI technology addresses this challenge by offering cost-effective processors with exceptional performance and low power consumption, rendering them suitable for integration into a vehicle’s ECU. This breakthrough enables the democratization of advanced features, making them available for mass-market vehicles.
The integration of Hailo’s revolutionary Hailo-8 AI accelerator with the high-performance Renesas R-Car V4H SoC represents a significant advancement. This integration not only enhances the affordability of iMotion’s AD/ADAS domain controller but also delivers unparalleled processing capabilities. It underscores our collective commitment to advancing automated driving safety and affordability across all vehicle segments.
Q. How does Hailo ensure the reliability and safety of its AI processors for use in critical automotive applications like advanced driver-assistance systems?
Hailo designed its devices in accordance with ISO26262 standards for functional safety, and we are rigorously testing our devices for reliability in accordance with AEC-Q100 standards. Hailo is implementing the required safety mechanisms and has performed the required analysis for being deployed in a safe system. As mentioned in other answers, the Hailo-8 was chosen for deployment for safety-grade ADAS/Automated driving starting this year.
Q. With the increasing complexity of autonomous driving systems, how does Hailo ensure scalability and adaptability of its AI technology to meet evolving industry requirements?
Hailo’s dedicated AI processors provide the high power-efficiency that enables automakers to pack more AI processing into the vehicle, making it possible to scale the AI compute to the required level of autonomy.
The Hailo AI processors are designed for scalability and can support the demanding deep learning workloads that ADAS require. One small, low-power chip can process multiple video streams and multiple chips can work in tandem or cascade, all while maintaining industry-leading efficiency and scalability, high processing throughput and low latency. The solution’s flexibility allows running state-of-the-art Neural Networks including transformers, alongside the use of different types of sensor inputs, ranging in resolution and input size.
Q. Could you shed some light on the role of edge computing in enhancing the efficiency and performance of autonomous driving solutions powered by Hailo’s AI processors?
The incorporation of Hailo-8 edge AI processors within iMotion iDC High domain controller is a giant step forward for the automotive industry, making applications such as Highway Pilot / Navigate on Autopilot (NoA) and Automated Home Parking viable and cost-effective for mass market vehicles.
The high-performance iDC High enables Bird’s Eye View 3D perception for advanced automated driving applications and enhances safety and comfort with a 10V5R sensor configuration. Importantly, the low power consumption of the Hailo-8 accelerator enables passive cooling of the ECU, lowering the cost of the residual bill of materials (BoM) and simplifying the vehicle integration.
Q. What potential advancements or breakthroughs can we expect in the near future from Hailo in the realm of autonomous driving technology?
We anticipate that Urban Pilot / NoA capabilities will soon become viable and cost-effective for mass-market vehicles as well.
Additionally, we see a rapidly increasing demand for generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) processing for in-cabin infotainment systems. Hailo’s powerful AI accelerators enable running LLMs locally in the car, freeing users from cloud network constraints, such as cost, connectivity and latency.
Q. How does Hailo collaborate with automakers and other stakeholders in the automotive industry to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of autonomous driving solutions?
We firmly believe in the power of partnerships and ecosystem collaboration. That’s why we’re collaborating with industry players like Renesas and various other companies developing automotive software and hardware. Together, we’re dedicated to creating compelling, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient solutions that democratize ADAS and autonomous driving for all drivers. We’re convinced that synergies among partners lead to superior solutions compared to individual offerings from each player separately.
Hailo is working closely with leading tier 1 suppliers and OEMs worldwide within the automotive industry. We recently announced our collaboration with iMotion, a Chinese tier 1 autonomous driving solutions provider, together with Renesas, towards deployment in a Chinese OEM within this year. We are expecting additional major announcements in this area in the coming months.
Q. In terms of regulatory compliance and standards, what measures does Hailo take to ensure that its AI processors meet the necessary requirements for deployment in autonomous vehicles?
The Hailo-8 AI processor is an AEC-Q100 grade 2 qualified Automotive AI accelerator, which has been developed in accordance with ISO26262 guidelines to meet ASIL-B conformance.
