Ghost Raises $100M to Advance Autonomous Driving & Crash Prevention

Ghost Locomotion Secures $100 Million in Series D Funding

Ghost Locomotion, a developer of autonomous driving systems, has successfully completed a $100 million Series D funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Sutter Hill Ventures, with participation from existing investor Founders Fund and Coatue. These funds are earmarked for continued research and development, specifically focusing on highway self-driving capabilities and crash prevention technologies.

A Novel Approach to Collision Avoidance

Ghost Locomotion is pioneering a unique universal collision avoidance system. This system operates on the principle that autonomous vehicles don't necessarily need to identify and categorize objects before reacting to avoid them – representing a significant departure from conventional methods.

Typically, autonomous systems initially focus on object recognition and then utilize image localization to ascertain size, distance, and other crucial characteristics. Ghost’s approach bypasses this initial step.

Direct Data Analysis for Faster Reactions

“We circumvent that initial categorization phase,” explained John Hayes, CEO of Ghost, in an interview with TechCrunch. “Our system is designed to detect any mass appearing within the vehicle’s field of view, and then rapidly determine its distance and relative velocity.”

This allows for immediate decision-making based on raw data, even before the object has been classified.

Reducing Uncertainty in Autonomous Systems

Hayes highlighted potential failure points in systems reliant on classification, such as misidentification of objects or encountering unfamiliar items. He argues that eliminating the classification prerequisite enhances collision avoidance reliability.

According to Ghost, starting with image recognition introduces inherent uncertainty, potentially leading to less secure actions while driving. The system prioritizes certainty in its decision-making process.

Collision Avoidance as a Primary Focus

While acknowledging that object classification can aid in predicting behavior – as different objects (vehicles vs. pedestrians) behave differently – Hayes emphasizes that collision avoidance should be the initial priority. Classification can then be implemented for predictive purposes.

Computational Efficiency and Energy Savings

A key advantage of Ghost’s system is its reduced computational demands. This is a significant benefit for vehicle owners, as lower processing requirements can contribute to improved fuel efficiency.

This is particularly crucial for battery electric vehicles, where the energy consumption of autonomous driving systems directly impacts driving range. Each watt saved by the AV system translates to increased mileage.

Testing and Roadmap Evolution

Ghost Locomotion has primarily conducted its testing in controlled, off-road environments, utilizing physical obstacles and augmented reality simulations. Testing in complex urban environments is planned, as is on-highway testing with a human safety driver, beginning this year and scaling up next year.

The company’s market strategy has evolved since 2019. Initially, Ghost aimed to offer a consumer kit enabling autonomous highway driving for privately owned vehicles, with a projected launch in 2020 at a price point below Tesla’s Autopilot.

Expanding Market Access

While the direct-to-consumer model remains a possibility – Hayes stated a desire to “get this in front of customers” – Ghost is now also exploring partnerships with automakers to integrate its technology directly into vehicles during manufacturing.

“We’ll pursue every viable route to market,” Hayes added. The direct-to-consumer approach will initially target a limited selection of newer vehicle models meeting specific technological criteria.

New Leadership to Navigate Commercialization

In addition to the funding announcement, Ghost Locomotion has appointed Jacqueline Glassman, former Chief Counsel and Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as General Counsel. She joined the company in April and is expected to be instrumental in navigating the path to commercialization alongside other autonomous driving technology developers.

Her expertise will be invaluable as Ghost progresses towards bringing its technology to market.