Israeli startups lead the world in revolutionary, lifesaving technology. From facilitating medical miracles to re-envisioning natural disaster response, the start-up nation is making major changes. Now, Israeli startups are tackling the different safety concerns a self-driving car might bring up from a different perspective, providing the consumer with comfort and assurance when they stop getting behind the wheel. The future of car safety is here. At CES 2019, check out the Israeli companies that will ensure a safe, smooth, autonomous ride.

Innoviz

Imagine autonomous vehicles as being equipped with eyes and ears on the road. There are no eyes in an autonomous vehicle without LiDAR. Israeli start-up Innoviz produces a smart LiDAR system, which sends out pulsed laser beams to measure and monitor a car’s surroundings. This laser technology is extremely accurate in its sensor capabilities, monitoring the environment clearly with the ability to focus on a narrow region while simultaneously processing the restof the environment at full frame rate. It’s the closest your car can come to having 20/20 vision. Better yet, to counteract the higher costs that come with a great LiDAR system, Innoviz is producing InnovizOne, a mass-market alternative to InnovizPro that will be available in 2019.

Arbe Robotics

Autonomous vehicles’ eyesight is as complex of that of human vision, with multiple dimensions. While LiDAR produces a slightly more focused picture, the more familiar term – radar – can scan farther, arming your car with better long-distance awareness. Using a 4D modeling algorithm, Tel-Aviv-based Arbe Robotics includes a full stack, real-time imaging radar system. Arbe Robotics’ software evaluates the vehicle’s surroundings using high-end software in many types of climates. Their product is low cost, uses low amounts of power, and doesn’t weigh much. Don’t underestimate this radar system – it can measure the environment around the car up to 50x per second, and any obstacle can be detected as far as 300 meters away.

VayaVision

Sensor technologies like those of Arbe and Innoviz complement each other quite nicely. Installing both programs on your car would be comparable to posessing the combined power of both the right and left leg; both enable you to walk well, but only when each foot takes turns moving. But you can’t successfully walk with both legs stepping at the same time, and likewise with Arbe and Innoviz. Both scenarios require signalling from the brain. VAYAVISION is the brain to sensors like Arbe and Innoviz; the technology decides which sensor to use at any given moment to certify your safety. The leading raw data fusion and perception platform fuses radar, LiDAR, and camera sensors in order to build an integrated environmental model that allows for high quality, low cost autonomous driving. This means that instead of delays comingfrom each separate sensor causing a ton of false alarms and missed detections, VAYAVISION’s integrated sensors will never miscommunicate, working as the brain in the driver’s seat, seamlessly and instantly fusing stimuli to keep your car ride not just safe, but also smooth.

Hailo

Reliable sensors are a literal lifesaver, but running sensor programs involves heavy data usage. Traditionally, data of this magnitude is sent to external data centers, which significantly slows down data processing. Two Israeli companies have attacked this issue from different angles and, as a result, developed the perfect processing pair. The first is Hailo. What if, instead of an external server, your car could use its own built-in computer chip to process incoming raw data without taking up a ton of space, energy, or cash? Hailo is a Tel Aviv-based startup developing intelligent hardware empowered with the performance of a data center-level computer. Hailo completely cuts out the need for offsite servers and keeps the data at your car’s ‘fingertips’, ready to use the millisecond you need it.

Brodmann17

Brodmann17 is the second technology that works to improve processing on autonomous vehicles; it provides any device with Artificial Intelligence (AI) -based machine learning capabilities using minimal resources and computing, Brodmann17’s software solution gives edge-of-the-network devices (like cars or drones) the ability to see, identify, and process large amounts of information by condensed the incoming data into a manageable amount which a regular chip can process. This enables the broad implementation of AI power to run directly on edge devices, even those with limited processing capabilities. If Hailo is the hardware, the chip – Brodmann17 is the software.

Phantom Auto

Advancements in autonomous mobility still may not be enough to convince you to feel comfortable in a self-driving car; that’s when you turn to Phantom Auto. This teleoperation safety technology enables a remote human operator to drive an autonomous vehicle (AV) when the AV cannot drive autonomously. As counterintuitive as putting long-distance personnel in control of your autonomous car might seem, knowing a highly trained driver can take over for technology at any time will be extremely helpful feeling all bases have been covered. Phantom Auto’s technology will even end up required in some states to ensure safety in situations where a car might be confused how to proceed (like an unexpected construction zone). This way, when you need it, you will be looked after by five-star technology and remote personnel.

Engie

Despite the rapid rate of mobility innovation, the reality is people aren’t going to be handing their keys over to a fully autonomous computerized car for a little while longer. Either by necessity or by choice, most people, especially outside urban areas, will continue to drive their cars for the foreseeable future. They’ll need Engie.

The orange glare of the ‘check engine’ light can be stressful, whether you are in an autonomous vehicle or not. Engie is the car diagnostics app and mechanic marketplace which will first and foremost track your car’s location (never forget where you parked again!) and any possible faults. If you have a problem, it will share the closest mechanics information and their estimated rates, while giving you live updates on your car through your smartphone.

C2A Security

Thinking about cybersecurity, you usually think of changing the passwords on your phone or laptop, but any connected car can behacked too. Even using an app like Engie can leave your car vulnerable – imagine what is possible when we are all driving extremely smart – but hackable – computers. How can you be sure your car won’t be hacked? Meet C2A. C2A’s ingenious cybersecurity measures will ensure your protection from all kinds of cyber threats to your car and, more importantly, you.

Interested in the full range of OurCrowd portfolio companies at CES 2019? Check out OurCrowd’s Startup Pavilion at CES.

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About the Author

Daniela Krausz is serving on the OurCrowd Content Team and has worked on communications in diverse areas, including CAD and BIM software and a member of the Israeli Parliament.