20th Dec 2024 13:19
(Sharecast News) - Intellectual property investor Tekcapital announced on Friday that its portfolio company Guident had been awarded a European patent, titled 'Artificial Intelligence Method and Apparatus for Remote Monitoring and Control of Autonomous Vehicles'.
The AIM-traded firm said the patent would strengthen Guident's position as a leader in safety systems for autonomous vehicles, adding that it covered a remote monitoring and control centre (RMCC) for such vehicles, using distributed sensor fusion and artificial intelligence.
It said the system could process sensor data from multiple autonomous vehicles, assess incident risks, and intervene when necessary to implement safety measures.
Tekcapital said the innovation would enhance safety, by allowing control to be returned to vehicles only once risk levels are mitigated.
It said Guident had already established a commercial-grade RMCC for autonomous vehicles in Florida, and was developing additional facilities in Michigan and Europe.
The company was continuing to expand its intellectual property portfolio as AV adoption accelerated globally, with safety apparently emerging as a critical factor for consumers, regulators, and manufacturers.
Guident said the market for automotive active safety systems, including driver monitoring, was projected to exceed $25bn by 2030, highlighting the growing demand for advanced safety solutions.
Tekcapital added that Guident was well-positioned to capitalise on the trend as autonomous vehicle adoption progressed toward mainstream acceptance, supported by advancements such as Waymo's 150,000 weekly paid trips and Tesla's planned robotaxi launch in 2026.
"We are very excited about the recent patent and commercial progress of Guident," said Guident executive chairman Harald Braun.
"We believe the timing for Guident's potential initial public offering next year is excellent and our experience with remote monitoring and control coupled with our proprietary intellectual property provides a first mover advantage."
Tekcapital owns 100% of Guident Limited, which holds a controlling stake in its US subsidiary Guident Corporation.
At 1130 GMT, shares in Tekcapital were up 5.29% at 8.95p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.