Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA), headquartered in Silicon Valley, is solidifying its commitment to innovation by forging new research collaborations with two leading universities: Stanford University School of Engineering and the University of California San Diego’s Contextual Robotics Institute. This six-month funding initiative underscores Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc.‘s dedication to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential within the automotive industry. The collaborations are strategically aimed at enhancing both the in-car passenger experience and accelerating advancements in autonomous driving technology.
These partnerships offer significant advantages to both the universities and Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. Students and researchers at Stanford and UC San Diego will gain invaluable access to resources, real-world applications, and the expertise of MBRDNA engineers. In return, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. anticipates groundbreaking innovations and fresh perspectives to emerge from these academic collaborations, fueling their ongoing pursuit of automotive excellence.
Fostering AI Innovation with Stanford University
Stanford University, a globally recognized hub for AI development since the inception of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL) in the 1950s, is a natural partner for Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. in its quest to revolutionize the AI-driven passenger experience. Fifteen select Stanford students, participating in the Course Project-Based Design, Innovation and Development program, will have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Mercedes-Benz innovation. This immersive experience includes exclusive field trips to two pivotal Mercedes-Benz locations: MBRDNA’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Silicon Valley, California, and Mercedes-Benz’s global headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
The core challenge presented to these bright Stanford minds revolves around the MBUX Virtual Assistant, a groundbreaking feature unveiled at CES 2024. Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. leverages cutting-edge software and generative AI to create a more intuitive and natural interaction between the vehicle and its occupants. This advanced system anticipates passenger needs, offering proactive and context-aware suggestions based on learned behaviors and real-time situational understanding. Divided into focused teams, the Stanford students are tasked with developing innovative project ideas that explore the vast potential of AI within the automotive context. These projects span a wide spectrum, from optimizing daily commutes and enhancing productivity for drivers, to tackling complex challenges such as automated parking solutions, and refining personalized in-car voice assistants powered by sophisticated large language models.
Philipp Skogstad, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc., emphasizes the strategic importance of these educational partnerships: “Mercedes-Benz’s educational collaborations with Stanford and UCSD are more than a financial funding commitment; they underscore our dedication to fostering the next generation of leaders in the tech space. We eagerly anticipate the discoveries and advancements that will arise from our collaboration.”
Jay Borenstein, lecturer for Stanford’s Project-Based Design, Innovation and Development course, echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re grateful to MBRDNA for their support that provides students with experiential learning opportunities, particularly as they relate to the possibilities that AI enables in the automotive sector.”
Advancing Autonomous Driving with UC San Diego’s Robotics Expertise
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. is further solidifying its commitment to academic partnerships through an expanded research initiative with the Contextual Robotics Institute at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. This collaboration leverages the expertise of the Institute’s Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory (AVL), led by Institute Director and UC San Diego Computer Science Professor Henrik I. Christensen. The AVL team specializes in perception and sensor fusion for autonomous driving, with a particular focus on 3D scene reconstruction from camera images. This research area holds immense potential for enhancing the safety and reliability of future autonomous vehicle systems developed by Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc.
The current project aims to build upon previous research conducted at Professor Christensen’s lab, integrating it with a real-time 4D Neural Radiance Fields (NERFs) model. The goal is to create a dynamic and semantically segmented 3D model of the vehicle’s surroundings. This advanced environmental understanding is crucial for safe and efficient autonomous navigation.
Professor Henrik I. Christensen expressed enthusiasm for the expanded partnership: “We are very excited to join forces with Mercedes Benz Research North America to expand our work on dynamic scene models for autonomous driving. This is a great opportunity for us to broaden our approach and also build a new alliance.”
This research collaboration builds upon an already strong relationship between Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. and the UC San Diego community. Beyond autonomous driving, MBRDNA’s Powertrain Organization also collaborates with the UC San Diego Sustainable Power and Energy Center, focusing on cutting-edge battery research to drive advancements in electric vehicle technology.
MBRDNA: A Legacy of Innovation in Silicon Valley
Mercedes-Benz made history by establishing MBRDNA as the first automotive research and development arm in Silicon Valley. Since its inception, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America Inc. has been instrumental in fostering research collaborations with leading universities and researchers across the United States. These partnerships have resulted in numerous joint publications and provided valuable recruitment opportunities, strengthening Mercedes-Benz’s talent pipeline. MBRDNA plays a vital role in Mercedes-Benz’s global network for digital transformation, driving groundbreaking technology partnerships and establishing a robust technological foundation to support the company’s vision of becoming the most desirable tech luxury brand in the automotive sector.
About MBRDNA
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America (MBRDNA), a U.S.-based subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, is at the forefront of developing advanced automotive technologies. Its diverse research portfolio encompasses autonomous driving, electric vehicles, connected car solutions, and software development. MBRDNA’s team of over 600 developers, technicians, engineers, and designers works in close collaboration with Mercedes-Benz R&D facilities worldwide, driving global innovation.
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Contacts
Yifei Wu, phone:+1 669 4546758, [email protected]
