Two companies have recently joined together to create an autonomous car system for any vehicle, which should be ready, they believe, sometime in 2019. The companies are Delphi Automotive PLC, a U.K.-based high-tech auto-parts provider, and Mobileye NV, an Israeli advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving technology provider – responsible for Tesla Motors, Inc.’s autonomous driving system.

Their mission, collaboration, was struck up this week, having a positive impact on both companies’ stocks.

In a press release it was explained how the collaboration will take effect, in technical terms anyway:

“Delphi will incorporate automated driving software algorithms from its Ottomatika acquisition, which include the Path and Motion Planning features, and Delphi’s Multi-Domain Controller (MDC) with the full camera, radar and LiDAR suite.”

It also explained how they will both develop heightened sensor fusion technology as well as “next generation, human-like, ‘driving policy.’” Besides the actual technology the ethical quandary of how an autonomous should be programmed to react when given a situation in which someone must get hurt is one that has long been discussed. Whoever develops the systems knows crashes are inevitable, and that’s why crash-optimization algorithms are being developed in an effort to be ‘human-like’ and cause the least amount of damage.

Experienced

Both companies have vast experience in this area, with Delphi creating more prosaic safety systems such as airbags as early as the late 1990s long, and in 2014 an Audi SQ5 was fitted with one of its autonomous driving systems.

Industry leaders such as Ford Motor Co. and BMW aG have said they will have their own in-house built autonomous cars come 2021, and Uber Technologies, Inc. recently partnering with Volvo Group to create a fleet of self-driving taxis is indicative how getting in on the race to create the best self-driving car is pervasive across multiple industries.

However the above collaboration of suppliers could prove cost effective to auto-makers who may not want to pursue the expensive and difficult challenge of developing the technology themselves. In a press release Mobileye points this out, “Our partnership with Delphi will accelerate the time to market and enable customers to adopt Level 4/5 automation without the need for huge capital investments, thereby creating a formidable advantage for them.”

Photo credit: Delphi