Meanwhile, I've been looking into the question of whether Valeo uses software NNs with SCALA 3.
Here is a recent patent application which confirms that this probably is the case:
WO2024012928A1 METHOD FOR TRAINING A NEURAL NETWORK 20220712
[0052]
The control unit 6 shown in Fig. 2 comprises a processor unit 14 (here also "determination unit") and a memory unit 16.
The control unit 6 is - preferably with
With the aid of software 18, which is stored on the memory unit 16 and is executed with the aid of the processor unit 14, the system is configured to carry out a method described below for determining a position of object surfaces 8 in an environment of a vehicle 1 as a function of the ultrasonic measurement data 10.
The control unit 6 further comprises a detection unit 12 for detecting the ultrasonic measurement data 10 of the ultrasonic sensors 2, in particular those which are inherent in the vehicle or are permanently integrated into the vehicle.
The control unit 6 can in particular output features 22 for defining the position of object surfaces 8 in an environment of the vehicle to the driver assistance system or other systems of the vehicle 1 via an output unit 20.
[0055] The neural network trained with the test vehicle 1' can, for example, be loaded at the end of the production line onto the control unit 6 of the vehicle 1 manufactured on the production line.
While this is for ultrasonic parking, it is also consistent with the fact that SCALA 3 does not include NN hardware, and we have been told by Valeo that SCALA 3 comes with inference software.
Now we know that Brainchip have been working with Valeo for several years. We also know that BRN have Akida simulation software which would have been provided to Valeo as part of our JD partnership. As I've mentioned before, the beauty of software is that you are not locked in as you would be with hardware, an important benefit when the technology is in a state of flux. So it is quite conceivable that Valeo have been playing with TENNs software for over a year.
Software is a much quicker time to market.
Being a JD, we will only get paid on sale of the product. Valeo have over $1 billion in forward orders (Stellantis, Toyota, ...), so we may get an inkling of "when $?" by watching the automakers' product releases.