The partnership is working on what are described as deep-learning algorithms, which have the potential to achieve reliable visual object detection and human–machine dialogue.
The first phase of the three-year partnership began this month (November 2016) and includes new postdoctoral research positions at Oxford, with plans to extend the research scope and time frame in due course, according to Kurt Lehmann, corporate technology officer at Continental.
“Cooperating with leading research institutions is of the utmost importance to us,” states Lehmann.
“It is an important building block that will enable us to measure up to the demands calling on us to shape the mobility of the future and acquire qualified employees and executives for tomorrow,” he adds.
And he suggest that Continental expects to build AI not only for automated and autonomous driving, but also for accident minimisation through intelligent warning systems.
“I am delighted with this new, important collaboration between Continental and our world-leading vision and information engineers,” comments Lionel Tarassenko, head of the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford.
“Our vision is a world in which the transportation of people and goods is fully automated and seamless, freeing up time and mental resources for other tasks,” he adds.
“Continental will contribute its deep technological understanding and competence in the mobility world, while Oxford offers best-in-class algorithmic competence and an extremely innovative environment,” states Demetrio Aiello, head of artificial intelligence & robotics at Continental.