Game developers who have previously launched flight simulators, racing games and sports titles, have helped to create a simulated world in which Oxbotica is testing its autonomous software – whether driving on an urban street or off-road in a mining quarry.
According to the company, simulation allows engineers to run virtual testing in an infinite number of scenarios. Software changes can then be played back through these simulations, allowing development to happen quickly, safely and at scale.
It adds that simulated scenarios ensure that the software is thoroughly tested before being deployed to a fleet – whether it’s on-road, off-road, down a mine or around an airport.
Todd Gibbs was the first game developer to move to Oxbotica, having previously headed up game development at NaturalMotion. He says: "At Oxbotica, we have attracted some of the brightest talent from the video game industry because they bring a speed of development and deployment unique to that industry.
“There is a lot of commonality between developing a chart-topping game and autonomous software, the most valuable being robust coding principles and a focus on CPU efficiency. We are able to write new code, debug and test in real-time without sacrificing robustness or safety."
The techniques behind animation technology used in the development of big Blockbuster movies are also being harnessed, while a video game engine is helping run the company’s virtual test programme.