Huawei is distributing samples of its Ascend 910C processor to conduct tests, aiming to address the gap left by Nvidia.
Under US sanctions, Huawei Technologies has initiated the testing of a new AI chip with potential customers in China, as they seek alternatives to high-end Nvidia chips, moving closer to bolstering China’s self-sufficiency in semiconductors despite US restrictions.
Huawei has provided samples of its Ascend 910C processor to major Chinese server companies for testing and setup, as stated by two sources familiar with the matter.
According to one of the sources, a distributor of Huawei AI chips, the upgraded 910C chip is being offered to large Chinese internet firms, which are significant Nvidia customers. Huawei did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Friday.
Huawei has been striving to fill the gap left by Nvidia after the ban on the California-based chip designer from exporting its most advanced GPUs to China.
The Ascend 910B chips, which Huawei has claimed to be comparable to Nvidia’s popular A100 chips, have emerged as a leading alternative in various industries in China.
Huawei’s Ascend solutions were utilized to train approximately half of China’s top large language models last year, as per Huawei’s statement.
Although Huawei has been discreet about its progress in chip advancements, it is evident that the company is establishing a support system for the domestic AI industry.
During the Huawei Connect event, the company unveiled various new solutions and their alignment with its Digitalized Intelligence vision for 2030.
At Huawei Connect Shanghai 2024, the company introduced upgrades to its AI, cloud, and compute capabilities, aligning with the company’s ‘Digitalized Intelligence’ 2030 strategic vision.
Huawei’s Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chairman, Eric Xu, emphasized the importance of envisioning the future of intelligent enterprises and aligning current strategies and actions with that vision during the opening keynote.
As part of its objectives in AI Intelligence and Amplifying Industrial Digitalization and Intelligence, Huawei’s updates aim to assist enterprises in effectively implementing the AI revolution.
With extensive experience in intelligent transformation, Huawei aims to develop products based on enterprises’ needs for successful deployment of new digital technologies.
Huawei has outlined a roadmap for creating an intelligent enterprise, characterized by six key aspects.
The first four aspects result from intelligent transformation:
– The first aspect focuses on Adaptive User Experience for customers.
– The second aspect is Auto-Evolving Products and their inherent product functionality and adaptability.
– The third aspect pertains to Autonomous Operations, covering sensing, planning, decision making, and execution.
– The fourth aspect involves an Augmented Workforce.
The remaining two aspects serve as the foundation of AI:
– The fifth aspect focuses on All-Connected Resources, aiming to connect all parts of an enterprise, including assets, employees, customers, partners, and ecosystems.
– The last aspect is AI-Native Infrastructure, aiming to meet the needs of intelligent applications through ICT infrastructure.
As a company rooted in telecommunications, Huawei recognizes the significance of interconnectedness and networks.
Therefore, the fifth aspect emphasizes the importance of All-Connected Resources, aiming to connect every part of an enterprise, from assets and employees to customers, partners, and ecosystems.
The final aspect, AI-Native Infrastructure, is twofold, with a focus on building ICT infrastructure to support the demands of intelligent applications.
This transitioned to David Wang, Huawei’s Executive Director of the Board and Chairman of the ICT Infrastructure Managing Board, as he emphasized Huawei’s commitment to collaborating with customers and partners to build future-proof infrastructure capable of supporting these initiatives.
To this end, Huawei introduced a new report called the Global Digitalization Index (GDI), which builds on the Global Connectivity Index (GCI) and incorporates new indicators to assess digital infrastructure, including computing, storage, cloud, and green energy. It also quantifies the value of each country’s ICT industry and its impact on the national economy.
A study found that every US$1 investment in ICT results in an US$8.3 return in a country’s digital economy.
Recognizing these returns, Huawei released an Amplifying Industrial Digitalization & Intelligence Practice White Paper with 10 major solutions for industrial intelligence to help businesses understand how to implement digitalization.
“We will also develop new scenario-specific solutions and create an environment for both the economy and society to flourish,” David stated during the keynote address. “Let’s seize the opportunities presented by this transformation and make its benefits accessible to all.”
Notwithstanding, ambitions need support. Supporting these digitalization efforts are a range of new product solutions that enterprises can use to advance their journey into AI.
Acknowledging that widespread AI usage will bring new demands, Huawei announced a focus on several key areas: connectivity, storage, computing, cloud, and energy.
New announcements, including the launch of cloud to mainframe technology by Zang Ping’an, Executive Director of the Board and CEO of Huawei Cloud, aim to facilitate better integration between cloud and computing environments for a centralized view to optimize IT operations.
Huawei’s continued efforts to help enterprises digitalize more widely are evident in their endeavors to make their AI more accessible and easier to deploy.
“We believe that if a company lacks the ability or resources to build their own AI computing infrastructure or train their own foundation model, then cloud services are a more feasible, sustainable option,” explains Eric.
Their Pangu models have been utilized in various industries, and experience suggests that a 1-billion-parameter model is sufficient for scientific computing and prediction scenarios, such as rain forecasts, drug molecule optimization, and technical parameter predictions.
Following AI, Pangu Doer, an intelligent assistant powered by the Pangu large model, was announced to usher in a new era of intelligent cloud services.
Designed around a “1+N” architecture, its uses extend to planning, using, maintaining, and optimizing the cloud through a series of specialized assistants tailored to key enterprise scenarios.
Huawei also introduced its new CANN 8.0 and opened its openMind application enablement kit, aiming to make the industry ecosystem more dynamic by providing wider access.
Additionally, Huawei announced the launch of their new Atlas 900 SuperCluster, the latest offering in Huawei’s Ascend series of computing products, utilizing a brand-new architecture for AI computing.
This was followed by an announcement for enterprises needing to build AI-native cloud infrastructure that matches their requirements.
Zhang subsequently announced the launch of CloudMatrix, designed to interconnect and pool all resources including CPUs, NPUs, DPUs, and memory, comprising an AI-native cloud infrastructure in which everything can be pooled, peer-to-peer, and composed, providing enterprises with significant AI computing power.
Building the foundation for the future of business
Huawei is actively addressing the key challenges businesses face as they adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape, with a focus on integrating AI, cloud, and computing technologies to improve operational efficiency and foster innovation.
By concentrating on six key areas – Adaptive User Experience, Auto-Evolving Products, Autonomous Operations, Augmented Workforce, All-Connected Resources, and AI-Native Infrastructure – Huawei aims to empower enterprises to effectively navigate their digital transformation journeys and develop digital and AI applications that enhance their offerings.
This comprehensive approach not only addresses immediate business needs but also prepares organizations for future challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.
This commitment to developing intelligent infrastructure, through collaboration with industry partners and a focus on innovative ICT solutions, is positioning Huawei as a leader in driving the future digital economy.
These innovative solutions and more can be experienced at this year’s GITEX. From October 14 to 18, Huawei will be a Diamond Sponsor at the 44th GITEX GLOBAL 2024, one of the world’s largest technology exhibitions.
With the theme of “Accelerate Industrial Digitalization and Intelligence”, Huawei will launch a series of flagship products and solutions for the global enterprise markets, Reference Architecture for Intelligent Transformation, and rich innovative practices in digital intelligence in the global industry.
During this exhibition, Huawei will also host the Huawei Industrial Digital and Intelligent Transformation Summit 2024, featuring dozens of forums, hundreds of talks, and keynote speeches, promoting discussions with the industry.
China has increased its computing power by 25% to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies. At the annual China Computational Power Conference in Zhengzhou, it was reported that the country’s total computing capacity reached 246 EFLOPS as of June, showing a significant growth from the previous year. If this trend continues, China is expected to achieve a total computing power of 300 EFLOPS by 2025.
Intelligent computing power used in AI-related tasks experienced a remarkable 65% growth, contributing to China’s position as the second-strongest computing powerhouse globally, after the United States. The US accounted for 32% of the world’s total computing power, surpassing China’s 26 %. This data was compiled by the state-backed China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).
Zhao Zhiguo, chief engineer at the Ministry of Information and Technology, emphasized the urgent need for digital information infrastructure such as computing power facilities due to the accelerated pace of digitalization and intelligent transformation of various industries.
To address regional imbalances in digital resources, China launched the Eastern Data and Western Computing project in 2022, aiming to achieve a balance between the more prosperous areas of eastern China and the energy-rich west. The plan includes the construction of 10 computing clusters across the country.
Huawei’s 2023 Annual Report revealed impressive revenue of nearly US$100 billion, positioning the Chinese technology giant above companies such as Tesla, Bank of America, Dell, and NTT in terms of annual revenue. The report highlighted steady growth in the cloud computing and digital power businesses, as well as significant investment in research and innovation, with R&D investment in the past decade reaching US$157 billion.
Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, expressed gratitude for the trust and support of customers, partners, and friends, emphasizing the company’s resilience and growth despite facing challenges in recent years.
Huawei’s revenue is largely driven by its ICT infrastructure, accounting for over half of the company’s total revenue at US$51.1 billion, a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year. The consumer business experienced a 17.3% growth, reaching a revenue of US$35.5 billion.
Cloud computing also saw significant growth, with revenue increasing by 21.9% to reach US$7.8 billion. Huawei aims to focus on developing core ICT technologies and building platform capabilities for complex hardware and software systems, which are then made available to partners.
Huawei’s chairman, Hu, expressed the company’s commitment to creating greater value for customers and society through open innovation, thriving ecosystems, and a focus on quality. Huawei has partnered with Chinese EV company BYD to incorporate Huawei’s autonomous driving system into its off-road Fangchengbao EVs, with the aim of boosting car sales.
BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle maker, is partnering with Huawei to utilize its autonomous driving system in its premium cars. The Fangchengbao lineup will be the first BYD model to use Huawei’s Qiankun intelligent driving system and is expected to be launched later in 2024.
The introduction of Qiankun in April 2024 aims to enhance the self-driving systems, including driving chassis, audio, and driver’s seat, reflecting the EV market’s increasing investment in AI and automation to attract potential buyers.
The partnership between Huawei and BYD comes at a time when the EV leader is seeking to improve profitability, as its premium car brands accounted for only 5% of its total sales in the first half of 2024. The EV market is seen as a significant advancement in vehicle engineering, with autonomous vehicles expected to enhance safety and driving experiences.
McKinsey research predicts that electrified passenger vehicle sales will reach 40 million in 2030, indicating rapid market growth, technological advancements, and intense competition across the value chain.
In 2024, EV sales have experienced a slight slowdown as leading organizations compete for market share. The use of Huawei technology by BYD underscores the pressure on large EV companies to offer the latest technology.
BYD aims to maintain its market dominance by improving smart driving configuration, leveraging its cost advantage through vertical integration, and investing in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and AI and automation offerings.
Huawei’s 2023 Annual Report highlights its robust financial performance, surpassing that of Tesla, with reaching revenue US$99.5 billion and a profit of US$12.3 billion. The organization’s partnership with BYD spans various areas of technology and innovation.
Prior to the recent announcement, both companies collaborated on intelligent driving technologies, leveraging Huawei’s expertise in AI, 5G, and cloud computing to advance capabilities in new EVs and rail transport systems. Additionally, Huawei provided smart factory solutions for BYD and assisted in building a high-quality 10 Gbps data centre campus network.
BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has recently teamed up with Huawei to incorporate Huawei’s advanced autonomous driving system, Qiankun, into BYD’s off-road Fang Cheng Bao EVs.
This strategic partnership is aimed at advancing BYD’s premium brands, including Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang.
The collaboration is crucial for BYD to narrow the technological divide in the self-driving space with its competitors.
Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0, which was introduced in April 2024, is composed of two characters: “Qian,” symbolizing heaven, and “kun,” representing the Kunlun Mountains, demonstrating Huawei’s ambition to reach new heights and excel in core technologies within the smart driving landscape.
Qiankun offers advanced smart driving features, such as Navigate on Autopilot (NOA), similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD), and other end-to-end network architecture capabilities that provide a more human-like driving experience.
Qiankun’s development stems from the legacy of Huawei Intelligent Automotive Solution, the company’s previous automotive business unit. Initially established in 2019 as a division within Huawei, this branch transitioned into an independent entity, Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., focusing on providing automotive hardware and software solutions to manufacturers.
The change to Yinwang marked a significant step in Huawei’s commitment to the automotive sector, solidified through key partnerships and investments with companies like Avatr Technology and Seres Group.
Regarding usage, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) developed by Huawei allows automakers to leverage Huawei’s comprehensive vehicle solutions, facilitating collaboration in product definition, design, marketing, quality control, and delivery.
Noteworthy brands such as Seres, BAIC BluePark, Chery, and JAC Group have benefited from the standardized parts supply model as well as the “Huawei Inside” (HI) and “HI Plus” models, incorporating Huawei’s technologies into their vehicles across different tiers.
Through this alliance, companies like Deepal, M-Hero, Avatr, and other leading manufacturers have embraced Huawei’s innovative solutions, including Qiankun Smart Driving and Harmony Cockpit, to improve their offerings and cater to evolving consumer demands in the competitive automotive market.
Key Differences Between Huawei Cars and BYD
Huawei and BYD are both significant players in the Chinese automotive market, but they differ fundamentally in their approaches, core competencies, and market offerings. Here’s a detailed look at the main distinctions:
1. Core Business and Expertise
Huawei:
Focus on Technology: Huawei is primarily a technology company with a strong background in telecommunications and information technology. Their entry into the automotive industry leverages their expertise in ICT (Information and Communication Technology), AI, and cloud computing.
Autonomous Driving and Connectivity: Huawei focuses on integrating advanced autonomous driving systems and connectivity solutions, such as their Huawei ADS (Autonomous Driving System) and HarmonyOS-powered smart cockpits.
These features are designed to enhance the driving experience through advanced driver assistance systems and seamless connectivity.
BYD:
Automotive Manufacturer: BYD (Build Your Dreams) is an established automotive manufacturer with a comprehensive focus on producing electric and hybrid vehicles. They have a deep expertise in battery technology and electric drivetrains.
Battery Technology: BYD is a leader in battery manufacturing, known for their Blade Battery technology, which emphasizes safety, efficiency, and longevity. Their focus is on creating vehicles that are efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly.
2. Product Range and Market Strategy
Huawei:
Collaborative Ventures: Huawei collaborates with established car manufacturers such as Seres and Chery to produce vehicles. Models like the AITO M5, M7, and Luxeed S7 showcase these collaborations. Huawei provides the technological backbone, including autonomous driving features, connectivity, and infotainment systems.
Technology Integration: The main selling point of Huawei’s vehicles is the integration of cutting-edge technology, making their cars highly advanced in terms of connectivity and autonomous driving capabilities.
BYD:
Diverse Vehicle Portfolio: BYD produces a wide range of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), including sedans, SUVs, and buses. They offer models like the Tang, Han, and Qin, which cater to different segments of the market.
Vertical Integration: BYD’s strategy involves vertical integration, controlling the entire supply chain from battery production to vehicle manufacturing. This allows them to optimize costs and ensure high quality across all components of their vehicles.
3. Market Position and Brand Identity
Huawei:
Pioneer in Technology: Huawei positions itself as a pioneer in technology within the automotive industry, with a focus on integrating the latest ICT advancements into vehicles.
Their branding highlights the fusion of smart technology and advanced driving systems.
New Player: As a relatively new player in the automotive market, Huawei is using its technological expertise to distinguish itself from traditional car manufacturers.
BYD:
Established Electric Vehicle (EV) Brand: BYD has a strong presence in the EV market and is globally recognized for its contributions to electric mobility.
Their brand identity is built on their extensive experience in producing dependable and efficient electric vehicles.
Focus on Sustainability: BYD emphasizes sustainability and eco-friendliness, showcasing their efforts in emission reduction and promotion of green energy through their EV offerings.
The fundamental disparities between Huawei and BYD in the automotive market arise from their core business areas, product strategies, and market positioning.
Huawei harnesses its technological capabilities to offer highly connected and autonomous vehicles through collaborations, while BYD concentrates on producing a wide array of electric vehicles with a strong focus on battery technology and sustainability.
These differences shape their respective approaches to revolutionizing the automotive industry and meeting the needs of contemporary consumers.
How Huawei is Revolutionizing the Chinese Automotive Market
Huawei’s foray into the automotive market is causing significant waves throughout the industry, fundamentally changing the dynamics of the Chinese car market.
Their innovative approach, integrating advanced technology with automotive manufacturing, is setting new benchmarks and widespread driving transformation.
Huawei’s dedication to research and development (R&D) and innovation is a game-changer. By leveraging their expertise in ICT, they have introduced features such as the HarmonyOS smart cockpit, which offers seamless connectivity and a user-friendly interface.
This integration is not just about incorporating new gadgets; it transforms the entire driving experience, making it more interactive and personalized.
Furthermore, the adoption of 5G technology ensures that Huawei’s cars are at the forefront of the connected vehicle revolution, offering real-time data exchange and enhanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
Additionally, Huawei’s partnerships with established automotive manufacturers like Seres and Chery are accelerating the pace of innovation in the industry.
These collaborations combine Huawei’s technological prowess with the automotive expertise of their partners, resulting in the rapid development and deployment of new vehicle models.
The AITO M5, M7, and M9, as well as the Luxeed S7, showcase how these partnerships can yield high-quality, technologically advanced vehicles that meet the evolving demands of consumers.
These efforts are not only enhancing the competitiveness of the Chinese automotive industry but also positioning it as a leader in the global market.
Conclusion
Huawei’s entry into the automotive market has transformed significantly the Chinese automotive industry by integrating cutting-edge technology with traditional vehicle manufacturing.
Known for its advancements in telecommunications, Huawei utilizes its expertise in ICT, AI, and cloud computing to introduce state-of-the-art autonomous driving systems and smart cockpits powered by HarmonyOS.
These features enhance the user experience by providing seamless connectivity, real-time data exchange, and advanced driver assistance.
Huawei, known for its advancements in telecommunications, is making significant strides in the automotive industry, especially in the realm of autonomous driving.
Their collaboration with AITO, a joint venture with Seres, demonstrates their commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into modern vehicles.
Here’s a detailed look at how Huawei’s autonomous driving solutions differ from traditional cars and enhance the user experience.
Advanced Autonomous Driving Technology
Huawei’s smart cars are equipped with the HUAWEI ADS 2.0 (Advanced Driving System), which incorporates several state-of-the-art technologies to facilitate autonomous driving:
AI and Machine Learning: Huawei’s autonomous driving system utilizes AI algorithms to process extensive amounts of sensor data, enabling real-time decision-making and adjustments.
Comprehensive Sensor Suite: The vehicles come with a combination of LIDAR, radar, and high-definition cameras, providing a 360-degree view of the surroundings and ensuring precise navigation and obstacle detection.
High-Performance Computing: These systems require robust computing power to handle complex driving scenarios, which Huawei provides through its advanced processors.
Seres: Huawei and Seres have a substantial partnership, resulting in the AITO brand. This collaboration has given rise to models such as the AITO M5, M7, and M9, which integrate Huawei’s advanced ICT and autonomous driving technologies with Seres’ automotive expertise.
Chery: The collaboration with Chery resulted in the creation of the Luxeed S7, an electric sedan that combines Chery’s automotive experience with Huawei’s state-of-the-art technology.
Avatr (Changan, Nio, and CATL): Huawei is working with Avatr, a joint venture involving Changan, Nio, and CATL, to develop new electric models. This partnership aims to produce vehicles that utilize a new platform supporting various types of advanced electric powertrains.
BAIC BluePark: BAIC BluePark partners with Huawei to incorporate smart selection technologies into high-end models, enhancing the user experience with advanced features and connectivity.
Honda: In the Chinese market, Honda integrates Huawei’s components into their electric vehicle lineup, showcasing a successful integration of traditional automotive engineering with Huawei’s advanced technological capabilities.
Driving Experience and PCB Integration
Huawei’s smart cars have garnered positive feedback for their driving experience, especially for the stability and reliability of their autonomous driving systems.
The HarmonyOS-powered smart cockpit offers intuitive controls and personalized settings, significantly improving user satisfaction.
PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) play a critical role in Huawei’s automotive technology. They support central computing systems, connectivity modules, sensor integration, and power management systems, enabling sophisticated functionalities and ensuring the performance and reliability of Huawei’s vehicles.
The Fangchengbao brand of BYD will be the first to incorporate Huawei’s Qiankun intelligent driving system according to the agreement. The Bao 8 SUV, a model in the Fangchengbao range, is expected to be the first vehicle equipped with this technology, with plans for its release later this year.
As BYD aims to move upmarket and increase sales of its premium brands, including Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang, this collaboration is part of the company’s strategy to focus on higher-margin vehicles to improve profitability.
Despite the fact that these premium brands collectively made up only 5% of BYD’s total sales in the first half of the year, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, BYD is facing a significant challenge.
The decision to integrate Huawei’s autonomous driving system into its vehicles underscores the competitive pressure BYD is experiencing in the rapidly evolving EV market. Despite its dominance in EV sales, largely due to its cost-effective vertical integration strategy, BYD has been striving to catch up in the area of smart driving technologies.
The company has been heavily investing in the development of its own advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and has reportedly recruited thousands of engineers since last year to strengthen its in-house capabilities.
However, BYD’s dependence on external suppliers for intelligent features in its upmarket models remains. For example, the company uses Momenta ADAS in its Denza cars. The partnership with Huawei is a significant move in BYD’s efforts to enhance its offerings in this critical area of automotive technology.
The collaboration also highlights Huawei’s increasing influence in the EV sector as a major supplier of ADAS. The tech conglomerate has been expanding its presence in the automotive industry and has formed notable partnerships beyond BYD. For instance, Volkswagen’s Audi brand has also announced plans to utilize Huawei’s ADAS in its EVs intended for the Chinese market.
This strategic alliance between BYD and Huawei reflects the broader trends in the global automotive industry, where traditional automakers and tech companies are increasingly collaborating to meet the demands of next-generation vehicles.
As autonomous driving technology becomes a key differentiator in the premium EV segment, such partnerships are likely to become more common.
Industry observers will closely monitor the success of this venture, as it could potentially reshape the competitive landscape of China’s EV market.
For BYD, the integration of Huawei’s advanced autonomous driving system presents an opportunity to strengthen its position in the premium segment and potentially capture a larger share of this lucrative market.
Closing the Technology Gap
This collaboration comes as BYD aims to narrow the technological gap with Tesla and other emerging Chinese automakers. Despite its dominance in the Chinese EV market, BYD acknowledges the increasing demand for advanced features among buyers.
The partnership represents a significant shift in BYD’s stance on autonomous driving technology. In 2023, the company had argued that self-driving technology was “basically impossible” for consumer applications. However, in 2024, BYD announced a $14 billion investment in smart car technology , including autonomous driving software and driver-assistance systems.
Expanding BYD’s Premium Offerings
BYD’s decision to integrate Huawei’s technology aligns with its strategy to boost sales of its premium brands, including Denza, Fangcheng Bao, and Yangwang. These brands currently make up only 5% of BYD’s total sales in the first half of 2023, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers as cited by Reuters.
By leveraging Huawei’s expertise, BYD aims to differentiate its high-end offerings and improve profitability. The move is part of BYD’s broader ambition to establish itself as a top global automaker, competing with established players like Hyundai Motor Company and Volkswagen, which encompasses several successful brands.
Huawei’s Influence in the EV Sector
Moreover, the partnership also underscores Huawei’s increasing presence in the EV industry as a major supplier of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Beyond BYD, Huawei has secured a deal with Volkswagen’s Audi to provide ADAS technology for its EVs in the Chinese market.
With this strategic alliance, BYD is positioning itself to compete more effectively in the premium EV segment, both in China and globally. As a result, collaborations like the one between BYD and Huawei are likely to become more common as the prevalence of EVs continues to grow on roads.
5 levels of Autonomous Driving Network
Autonomous driving networks go beyond innovating a single product and are more about innovating system architecture and business models, which requires industry players to collaborate to define standards and guide technology development and rollout.
Huawei has suggested five levels of Autonomous Driving Network systems for the telecom industry:
- L0 manual O&M: provides assisted monitoring capabilities and all dynamic tasks must be executed manually.
- L1 assisted O&M: performs a specific sub-task based on existing rules to enhance execution efficiency.
- L2 partial autonomous networks: enables closed-loop O&M for specific units under certain external environments, reducing the requirement for personnel experience and skills.
- L3 conditional autonomous networks: expands on L2 capabilities, allowing the system to sense real-time environmental changes, and in certain domains, optimize and adjust to the external environment to enable intent-based closed-loop management.
- L4 highly autonomous networks: builds on L3 capabilities to accommodate more complex cross-domain environments and achieve predictive or active closed-loop management of service and customer experience-driven networks. Operators can then resolve network faults before customer complaints, reduce service outages, and ultimately improve customer satisfaction.
- L5 fully autonomous networks: represents the telecom network evolution goal. The system possesses closed-loop automation capabilities across multiple services, multiple domains, and the entire lifecycle for true Autonomous Driving Network.
The future of autonomous driving networks
At Mobile World Congress 2018, Huawei introduced its Intent-Driven Network (IDN) solution, which establishes a digital twin between physical networks and business goals, and helps advance networks from SDNs towards autonomous driving networks. The solution also assists operators and enterprises in implementing digital network transformation centered on service experience.
The solution necessitates four transformations within the industry: from network-centric to user-experience-centric; from open-loop to closed-loop; from passive response to proactive prediction; and from skill-dependent to automation and AI.
Huawei’s IDN solution encompasses various scenarios, including broadband access, IP networks, and optical and data center networks. It enables telecom networks to progress towards Autonomous Driving Networks.
For instance, in the broadband access field, there is an average of 1,000 customer complaints and 300 door-to-door maintenance visits per year for every 10,000 users. Due to a lack of data, about 20 percent of customer complaints cannot be entirely resolved However, the IDN perceives broadband services in real time.
Big data and AI algorithms quickly locate faults and optimize the network, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in home visits and an improved service experience.
In September 2018, Huawei enhanced its Intent-Driven Network (IDN) solution and proposed its “digital world + physical network two-wheel drive” strategy to accelerate IDN innovation.
Huawei is also expediting the implementation of autonomous driving networks in wireless network scenarios. At the 9th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, Huawei published the Key Scenarios of Autonomous Driving Mobile Network white paper, outlining seven key sub-scenarios, such as base station deployment and network energy efficiency, to progressively achieve network automation.
As research progresses, Huawei will continuously update its application scenarios and release its research findings. Huawei and leading global operators have jointly initiated the NetCity project to promote the application of new technologies such as big data, AI, and cloud computing in telecom networks.
By defining business scenarios and introducing innovations following the DevOps model, Huawei and its operator partners have introduced cutting-edge technologies to enhance users’ service experience, driving telecom networks to evolve towards Autonomous Driving Networks.
By the end of 2018, Huawei had collaborated with leading customers to launch 25 NetCity innovation projects. Achieving autonomous driving networks will be a lengthy journey. To realize our vision, the industry must collaborate.
Huawei is dedicated to leading developing ICT solutions through continuous innovation, and simplifying complexity for customers. Together, we will embrace a fully connected, intelligent world.
Huawei introduced a new software brand for intelligent driving called Qiankun on Wednesday (Apr 24), as part of its efforts to establish a strong presence in the electric vehicle industry.
The name Qiankun represents a fusion of heaven and the Kunlun Mountains and the brand aims to offer self-driving systems for various components such as driving chassis, audio, and driver’s seat. Jin Yuzhi, CEO of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit , made this announcement during an event preceding the Beijing auto show.
Jin stated that by the end of 2024, over 500,000 cars equipped with Huawei’s self-driving system will be on the roads, marking the beginning of mass commercialization of smart driving. Huawei’s smart car unit was established in 2019 with the vision of becoming a leading supplier of software and components to partners, akin to German automotive supplier Bosch in the era of intelligent electric vehicles.
In November, Huawei revealed plans to spin off the smart car unit into a new company, which will inherit the unit’s core technologies and resources and receive investments from partners like automaker Changan Auto.
At the event, Jin Yuzhi also announced the launch of the Qiankun ADS 3.0 intelligent driving system, which is an upgraded version of the previous Huawei ADS 2.0, featuring enhancements in mapless intelligent driving, collision avoidance, and all-scenario parking.
The ADS 3.0 boasts improved road and scene recognition through cloud and real vehicle training, providing the system with the ability to make decisions similar to an experienced human driver. It also introduces the GOD network for general obstacle detection, an upgrade from the architecture seen in ADS 2.0.
Huawei claims that the Qiankun ADS 3.0 is the first product in the industry to enable Navigation Cruise Assist (NCA) from parking space to parking space, allowing drivers to exit the car and walk away after selecting the target parking space. This system supports parking in all visible spaces and is not limited to specific types.
The upgrade to Qiankun ADS 3.0 also includes improved capabilities for the omnidirectional collision avoidance system (CAS) to CAS 2.0 standard, covering front, rear, and side collision avoidance. According to Huawei, a test with the Aito M9 equipped with CAS 2.0 outperformed comparable models in various scenarios, including pedestrian crossing and left turns.
The high-end version of Qiankun 3.0 is dependent on Lidar, while there is also a Qiankun SE version for non-Lidar equipped vehicles, which is expected to replace the current Huawei ADS Basic Intelligent Driving system.
Other components of the Qiankun brand include the Qiankun iDVP intelligent vehicle digital platform, Qiankun Vehicle Control Module, and XMotion 2.0 Body Motion Collaborative Control. Huawei claims that the Qiankun vehicle control module is the world’s first 5-in-1 vehicle control SoC (system on chip), leading in terms of high integration, high performance, low latency, high reliability, and high security.
Additionally, the XMotion 2.0 system uses 6D vehicle motion algorithms to enhance driving performance and provide a better driving experience, offering stability control at speeds up to 120 km/h and stability during events such as punctures and high-speed obstacle avoidance. Adaptive slip control ensures that a car equipped with the system does not skid on slippery roads.
Huawei also announced at the conference that the system will be integrated into 10 “new” models to be launched in 2024 from brands including Dongfeng, Changan, GAC, BAIC, Aito, Chery, and JAC.
Finally, upgrades to the HarmonyOS cockpit system were also unveiled at the conference.
