Autonomous trucking tech developer Embark Trucks has adopted NVIDIA DRIVE autonomous vehicle platform to power its self driving software. By collaborating with NVIDIA and adopting the DRIVE platform, Embark intends to equip its test fleet with the automotive-grade compute required to scale and integrate the platform within carriers’ fleets.

Embark has developed EUI, the Embark Universal Interface, an OEM-agnostic approach that enables carriers to begin trialling and deploying Embark self-driving software on trucks from the carrier’s preferred OEM.

The EUI is a set of standardised self-driving components and the flexible interfaces necessary to more easily and robustly integrate Embark’s autonomous technology onto truck OEM vehicle platforms. The EUI is currently being developed for trucks from the four major OEMs in the US – Freightliner, Navistar International, PACCAR, and Volvo – representing the vast majority of the Class-8 trucks on the road nationwide.

“In order to meet the high safety and performance standards demanded by the Embark Driver software via the EUI, we need an enormous amount of compute power in our trucks,” said Ajith Dasari, Head of Hardware Platform at Embark. “The NVIDIA DRIVE platform meets this need head-on, and allows us to outfit our partners and customers with the best self-driving hardware and software currently on the market.”

The NVIDIA DRIVE platform is an AI platform that features co-developed hardware and software that work together to enable the production of automated and self-driving vehicles, combining deep learning, sensor fusion, and surround vision for a safe driving experience. The platform allows for one development investment across an entire fleet, from Level 2+ systems all the way to Level 5 fully autonomous vehicles.

“By selecting NVIDIA DRIVE, Embark will help accelerate the development of commercial self-driving software-as-a-service for the trucking industry, achieving a safer and more efficient freight ecosystem,” said Rishi Dhall, Vice President of Automotive Business at NVIDIA.

In June 2021, Embark announced a definitive business combination agreement with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II that is anticipated to result in Embark becoming a publicly listed company. Embark also recruited former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to its Board of Directors.

In April 2021, Embark announced the Partner Development Program, the cornerstone of its go-to-market strategy, and unveiled partnerships with carriers including Knight-Swift Transportation, Werner Enterprises, Mesilla Valley Transportation, and Bison Transport, and shippers including Anheuser Busch InBev and HP.