Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance and its wholly-owned subsidiary Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe partnered in a capital and business alliance with Oxbotica (now OXA), an Oxford University startup specializing in the development of autonomous driving systems, in December.

Background

The automotive industry is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation with rapid technological evolution and implementation. Autonomous driving technology, in particular, is expected to solve social issues such as reducing traffic accidents, addressing mobility challenges in aging and depopulated areas, and compensating for the shortage of drivers due to population decline. Countries worldwide are advancing research and development for the practical use of 'Level 4' autonomy, which allows unmanned autonomous driving under specific conditions. Since 2016, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance has been conducting joint research with Gunma University, developing insurance policies that offer free premiums during Level 3 or higher autonomous driving modes and collaborating with various partners in autonomous driving technology research.

Oxbotica's Vision

Oxbotica aims to become a universal autonomy platformer across various industries, developing an autonomous driving system compatible with all mobility types. In May 2022, the company conducted Europe's first unmanned autonomous driving demonstration, showcasing its high technical standards. Following a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in May 2022, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance and Oxbotica, through Aioi Nissay Dowa Europe Limited (ADE), have collaborated on providing dedicated insurance for unmanned autonomous vehicles and further strengthened their partnership through this capital and business alliance.

Oxbotica's System Features and Details

Oxbotica Driver: A software that can be installed in various vehicles (shuttle buses, delivery vehicles, mining trucks, etc.) used in different fields (mines, factories, airports, roads, etc.), regions (Europe, North America, Australia, etc.), and weather conditions (rain, fog, snow, etc.). It enables autonomous driving without relying on GPS or high-precision 3D map data.

Oxbotica Cloud: A cloud-based management system that enables vehicle tracking and real-time monitoring of vehicle status. It can be used independently or connected to other systems, enhancing its functionality through learning from driving experiences in various regions and fields.

Oxbotica Meta Driver: An advanced AI-powered 3D simulation software that can recreate various driving scenarios by altering time of day, weather conditions, etc., in synthetic images. It facilitates safe and efficient implementation of autonomous driving by conducting numerous virtual simulations, including scenarios difficult to replicate in real-vehicle tests, and streamlines the driving learning process.

Future Developments

Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance will explore the role of insurance in the context of full autonomous driving, utilizing Oxbotica's unique system and aligning with the company's global strategy. The company will leverage its experience from acquiring InsureTheBox, a leading telematics auto insurance company in the UK through ANDEL in 2015, and its telematics know-how from around the world, advancing unmanned autonomous vehicle product and service development. Discussions will also be held with other strategic shareholders of Oxbotica. Furthermore, in collaboration with Aioi R&D Lab – Oxford (established on November 15), the company will accelerate and deepen this initiative, advancing product and service development based on "CSV×DX (Creating Shared Value by Digital Transformation)" to globally contribute to the proliferation of autonomous vehicles and the realization of a safe and secure mobility society.