Self-driving startup pitches simulation tool for chasing Waymo

Applied Intuition sells software for the simulation of autonomous driving. Self-driving cars have made virtually every mistake imaginable inside the office of Applied Intuition . One braked hard to miss a pup that had run into the street, another barely avoided a truck with a blown tire barreling down the freeway. And the second-floor office in Sunnyvale, California, where none of the employees wear shoes, isn’t big enough to execute a three-point turn.

Peter Ludwig, a co-founder, showed off his startup’s product, something he believes dozens of automakers and tech startups trying to perfect autonomous driving will need. An image of a self-driving car appeared on his screen, taking a left turn at an intersection. A stick figure flashed in front—a sudden jaywalker—forcing the car to slam on its brakes.

Ludwig dragged his mouse across the bottom of the screen, reversing the four-second scene, and then he played it out again.

Applied Intuition sells software for the simulation of autonomous driving. By testing on virtual streets, companies can expose robot cars to a wide variety of road conditions and scenarios that might spring up, and without any of the danger. Without performing elaborate physical experiments it’s hard to know how a robot would respond to a speeding motorcycle or a small child running into the street.

“You wouldn’t want to test that in the real world,” Ludwig said.

Of course, hundreds of bulky, pricey self-driving cars are in Arizona, California and other states, roaming real roads with very unpredictable conditions. Worries about dangerous mistakes in public make that an expensive pursuit. The companies operating these test vehicles use safety drivers and remote operators, which the states permitting testing require, and only drive in regions where they have hyper-detailed maps. Those costs may compel the companies to lean on more virtual miles to improve their […]

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