Autoware 2.0 Development Effort to Be Led by TIER IV

TIER IV announced on November 2 that it will lead the development and promotion of Autoware 2.0, the next-generation version of its open-source autonomous driving software. The initiative will be undertaken in collaboration with the Autoware Foundation (AWF), the nonprofit organization responsible for hosting the Autoware project, and the global open-source community. Autoware 2.0 is designed to expand support for data-centric and AI-based autonomous driving approaches while maintaining compatibility with conventional rule-based systems. This approach allows the software to accommodate different autonomous driving development methodologies within a common framework.

Autoware 2.0 introduces a scalable and adaptive architecture capable of supporting various configurations of AI-based and rule-based autonomous driving systems. The software also incorporates a flexible indexing scheme intended to facilitate modular software integration. Another key component is a ready-made Reference Design framework developed to support commercial adoption across different vehicles, applications and operating environments. Together, these features establish a software architecture intended to accommodate diverse autonomous driving configurations while providing a framework for broader commercial implementation.

To accelerate commercialization, TIER IV will collaborate with Arm on developing computing platforms for Autoware 2.0. The company will also work with AWS to advance cloud-native environments supporting the software's development and operations. In addition, collaboration with Red Hat will focus on promoting system integration between Autoware 2.0 and AutoSD, the open-source upstream project for Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System. These partnerships extend the development initiative beyond the software itself to include computing infrastructure, cloud-native development environments and in-vehicle operating system integration.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Autoware 2.0 represents an effort to support the broader commercialization of open-source autonomous driving software through greater architectural flexibility and collaboration across the technology ecosystem. Its ability to accommodate both AI-based and conventional rule-based approaches provides support for different autonomous driving system configurations. The Reference Design framework also addresses commercial adoption across multiple vehicles, applications and operating environments. Collaboration with Arm, AWS and Red Hat further connects software development with computing platforms, cloud-native infrastructure and in-vehicle operating system integration, making these partnerships important components of TIER IV's commercialization initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Autoware 2.0?
Autoware 2.0 is the next-generation version of Autoware, an open-source software platform for autonomous driving. Led by TIER IV in collaboration with the Autoware Foundation and the global open-source community, it expands support for data-centric and AI-based approaches while retaining compatibility with conventional rule-based autonomous driving systems. Its architecture is designed to accommodate different configurations of autonomous driving software. It also introduces modular integration capabilities and a Reference Design framework intended to support commercial adoption across vehicles, applications and operating environments.

2. What are the main features of Autoware 2.0?
Autoware 2.0 introduces a scalable and adaptive architecture, flexible indexing and a ready-made Reference Design framework. The architecture supports different configurations of AI-based and rule-based autonomous driving systems, while the indexing scheme facilitates modular software integration. The Reference Design framework is intended to support commercial adoption across different vehicles, applications and operating environments. These features provide flexibility in configuring autonomous driving systems and integrating the software into different commercial applications without abandoning compatibility with conventional rule-based approaches.

3. Which companies are collaborating with TIER IV on Autoware 2.0?
TIER IV is collaborating with Arm, AWS and Red Hat to advance the commercialization of Autoware 2.0. Arm will work with TIER IV on developing computing platforms for the software. AWS will support the advancement of cloud-native environments for its development and operations. Red Hat will collaborate on system integration between Autoware 2.0 and AutoSD, its open-source upstream project for Red Hat In-Vehicle Operating System. These collaborations address different technological components supporting the development and commercial implementation of the autonomous driving software.

4. What is the role of the Autoware Foundation in Autoware 2.0?
The Autoware Foundation (AWF) will collaborate with TIER IV and the global open-source community on developing and promoting Autoware 2.0. AWF is a nonprofit organization that hosts the Autoware project. Its involvement forms part of the collaborative development initiative for the next-generation software. The announcement identifies the foundation and the wider open-source community as partners in advancing Autoware 2.0, alongside TIER IV's leadership of the development and promotion efforts.