Editor’s note: This blog was updated on Oct. 17, 2023, to reflect NVIDIA’s updated processor roadmap, which includes NVIDIA DRIVE Thor and its performance and capabilities.
NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion is taking software-defined vehicle architectures to the next level.
At his GTC keynote, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang announced DRIVE Hyperion 9, the next generation of the open platform for automated and autonomous vehicles. The programmable architecture, slated for 2027, will be built on the DRIVE Thor central computer to achieve automated driving.
DRIVE Hyperion is designed to be compatible across generations, with the same computer form factor and NVIDIA DriveWorks APIs. Partners can leverage current investments in the DRIVE Orin platform and seamlessly migrate to NVIDIA DRIVE Thor and beyond.
The platform includes the computer architecture, sensor set and software. It is designed to be open and modular, so customers can select what they need. Hyperion 9 will enable level 3 urban and level 4 highway driving capabilities.
Core Compute
DRIVE Hyperion incorporates redundancy into the compute architecture.
With the DRIVE Thor superchip, the next-generation platform will feature 8x the performance of the current DRIVE Orin-based architecture at the same power envelope. DRIVE Thor is a technical marvel for safe and secure computing, harnessing the advanced AI capabilities first deployed in NVIDIA Grace CPUs and Hopper and Ada Lovelace architecture-based GPUs.
It provides 2,000 teraflops of performance — more than ample compute horsepower for redundant and diverse deep neural networks and leaving headroom for developers to continue adding features and improvements.
DRIVE Hyperion is the nervous system of the vehicle, and DRIVE Thor serves as the brain.
Heightened Sensing
With DRIVE Thor’s compute performance, DRIVE Hyperion 9 can process even more sensor data as the car drives, improving redundancy and diversity.
This upgraded sensor suite includes an array of high-resolution cameras, radars, lidars and ultrasonics.
By incorporating a rich sensor set and high-performance compute, the entire system is architected to the highest levels of functional safety and cybersecurity.
DRIVE Hyperion 9 will give the industry continuous access to the cutting edge in AI technology as it begins to roll out more intelligent transportation.