Despite Tesla's ambitious claims of its vehicles' Full Self-Driving capabilities, today's autonomous navigation technology generally tops out at Level 2. More advanced self-driving systems are in development but likely still years away from being safe and cost-effective enough for everyday use. Seoul Robotics, however, has developed a mesh network that reportedly imparts Level 5 autonomy to vehicle fleets, if only for the "last mile." The company's Level 5 Control Tower system sidesteps some technical challenges of self-driving technology by embedding sensors in the surrounding infrastructure -- traffic lights, nearby buildings, freeway overpasses, etc -- rather than on the vehicles themselves. Instead of each vehicle looking out for itself and responding autonomously to surrounding traffic, the Level 5 Control Tower uses its meshed sensor network to collect data on the overall traffic situation and automate vehicles in the area accordingly, using V2X communications and 4/5G radios.

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seoul Robotics, the 3D perception solution company using deep learning AI to power the future of mobility, today announced that in 2021 the company more than doubled the number of partnerships and global employees. In July alone, Seoul Robotics closed more business than in the entirety of 2020. Since launching in North America in January 2021, Seoul Robotics has introduced three plug-and-play 3D perception systems, Discovery, Voyage, and Endeavor, as well as the most advanced version of its 3D perception platform, SENSR 2.2. SENSR 2.2 is the only 3D perception software on the market leveraging deep learning AI and is compatible with over 75 different makes and models of 3D sensors, including LiDAR. Over the past year, Seoul Robotics has secured and scaled solutions with several top-tier companies and government entities, including multiple Tier-1 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Departments of Transportation.

As 2020 finally winds down and potential vaccines promise emergence from COVID reality, Israel's startup ecosystem showcases its MedTech prowess, AI dominance, and data magic in this week's recap of the Israel tech sphere. Investments keep on coming, VCs keep on funding, multinational organizations recognize the innovative potential in Israeli startups, and a recap of the ecosystem's fundraising efforts for the month of November. Aquarius Engines develops a smart miniature sustainable combustion engine that can help scale the big machines down to size. Aquarius recently announced a $10 million funding round, led by TPR, a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer. To date, the Israeli startup has raised $37 million from Paz Oil, Marius Nacht, Honda Group's Musashi Seimitsu, and others.