Rivian buys Third Dimension to boost self-driving sims — SkimNews
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- Rivian acquired Third Dimension, a U.K.-based AI startup, to accelerate development of its advanced driver-assistance and robotaxi self-driving systems
- Third Dimension developed AI that converts real-world images and videos into lifelike 3D environments, initially aimed at gaming but pivoting to autonomous vehicles under Rivian
- James Philbin will lead the integration of Third Dimension’s team into Rivian’s autonomy and AI division, expanding Rivian’s AI hub in London
- Tolga Kart, Third Dimension’s CEO, stated the acquisition allows the team to focus exclusively on a high-impact problem in automated driving at scale
- Rivian collects over 400,000 daily driving sequences from customer vehicles with enabled camera sharing, which will feed into enhanced simulation using Third Dimension’s technology
- Rivian plans to release an updated hands-free driving system by year-end capable of handling both highways and surface streets, with full autonomy targeted for robotaxis on Uber by 2028
Why it matters: Rivian gains a proprietary simulation tool that closes the gap between real-world data and virtual testing, reducing reliance on rare edge cases and accelerating validation of self-driving systems—critical for meeting its 2028 robotaxi launch deadline with Uber.
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