Harman, recently acquired by Samsung, has created a new division for producing technology for self-driving cars.
The new division is called the Autonomous/ADAS Strategic Business Unit and it’s part of a new $300 million fund earmarked by Samsung for the automotive market.
The Harman Autonomous car unit will work with Samsung’s Smart Machines team to focus on “high-performance computing, sensor technologies, algorithms, artificial intelligence, as well as connectivity and cloud solutions that enable Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and automated driving,” said a Samsung press announcement.
In the US there are more than 35,000 fatal crashes every year. And road injuries are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, says the World Health Organization. “Samsung’s goal in the automotive market is to tackle this challenge by bringing to market technologies, from sensors to data-processing solutions, that will help make cars safer while creating a more comfortable and convenient mobility experience,” it said.
Samsung industry veteran John Absmeier has been appointed Senior Vice President of the new Harman unit, and he will also retain his current role as Vice President of Smart Machines for Samsung.
Separately, Harman Pro Solutions will lay off 650 employees in the US and Europe over the next year, reports Commercial Integrator
Source: Harman
