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Kopernikus Automotive: AI specialist for automated parking secures Continental as an investor

TGFS

03 August 2021

The Leipzig-based start-up Kopernikus GmbH has successfully completed a funding round. In addition to the technology company Continental, TGFS, AMAG AG and Golzern Holding are investing in the Leipzig-based startup Kopernikus Automotive. The parties involved have agreed to keep the investment amount confidential. As a specialist in autonomous driving technologies based on artificial intelligence, Kopernikus develops solutions for infrastructure-based automated parking in parking garages, also known as Automated Valet Parking (AVP), as well as autonomous maneuvering of newly produced vehicles at vehicle manufacturers or on logistics premises. For these and future use cases, the goal is to maneuver vehicles through a combination of sensors installed in the building and artificial intelligence centrally computed in the infrastructure.

Today, the first vehicles are already being autonomously guided through vehicle factories using infrastructure-based systems, and this technology will significantly transform parking in the near future. For Automated Valet Parking, the driver exits the vehicle – for example, at an airport terminal – uses a mobile app to hand over control to the infrastructure, and the car parks itself autonomously. The vehicle is guided by the infrastructure installed in the parking facility, with cameras serving as sensors. At the core of the system is a central processing unit housing artificial intelligence. Kopernikus Automotive provides a solution enabling cost-effective equipping of any parking facility, hotel and airport — making them ready for autonomous parking.

For the interaction with the infrastructure’s sensors, on the vehicle side, in addition to an automatic transmission, a motion control unit, an electric parking brake and steering assistance, an intelligent communication unit is also required.

At the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, from September 6 to 12, the collaboration between Continental and Kopernikus can be witnessed in action for the first time: Together with Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar-Land Rover and Volkswagen’s automotive software subsidiary CARIAD, Continental and Kopernikus will showcase a joint driving demonstration in the IAA exhibition parking garage in Munich. As part of the VDA project Automated Valet Parking (AVP), the interoperability of the infrastructure-based solution with multiple vehicle manufacturers and other infrastructure providers will be demonstrated. „Here, you can witness live how we collaborate with various vehicle manufacturers and brands to realize autonomous parking for all,“ says Stefan Jenzowsky, Managing Director of Kopernikus Automotive.

„We are pleased to accompany the future development of Kopernikus together with the existing investors and now also Continental. Since our entry in 2020, the company has made tremendous progress. With the fresh money, the experience of all investors, and the expertise of the Kopernikus team, we are confident that Kopernikus will offer a market-ready solution enabling the widespread adoption of autonomous parking,” summarizes Sören Schuster, Managing Director of TGFS, on the current financing round. TGFS is one of the most active VC funds nationwide, focusing on Saxony. Since its establishment in 2008, it has supported more than 80 startups in the Free State. It invests in early stage, as in the case of Kopernikus.

Your contact
Sören Schuster | Managing Director
+49 341 256963 30
soeren.schuster@cfh.de

 

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