Waabi Launches Mixed Reality System for Safer Truck Testing
Waabi, a leading force in autonomous trucking technology, has unveiled a pioneering mixed reality testing system that reshapes the landscape of vehicle safety evaluation. This new approach combines physical test track environments with virtual scenarios, offering a hybrid testing framework that enables autonomous trucks to engage with dynamic, high-risk conditions without compromising safety.
The mixed reality testing (MRT) system integrates real-world driving with simulated events in a way that allows autonomous trucks to respond to virtual stimuli while navigating actual road conditions. Instead of relying solely on traditional physical testing or large-scale simulations in the cloud, this method creates a controlled blend of both, enhancing the realism and variability of safety testing.
Historically, vehicle safety assessments have changed little over the last hundred years. Conventional testing methods involve closed-track setups where vehicles follow scripted scenarios that demand careful choreography and coordination, not unlike film production stunts. However, these methods tend to lack variety, struggle with repeatability, and are limited by the risks of causing real damage, making them both inefficient and costly.
Waabi’s MRT solution tackles these limitations head-on. By intercepting and altering the sensory data received by autonomous vehicles, the system constructs virtual hazards that appear real to the vehicle’s onboard perception system. This innovation effectively creates a virtual overlay, allowing the autonomous truck to “see” and respond to potential dangers that do not physically exist on the track.
This capability dramatically expands the range of scenarios that can be tested. The technology can instantly generate complex situations, including erratic pedestrian behaviour, unpredictable vehicle actions, and dense traffic conditions. These are precisely the types of high-risk scenarios that are typically impossible to recreate in physical tests due to safety concerns.
A key component of Waabi’s platform is its use of generative artificial intelligence and neural simulation technologies. Unlike traditional simulations that rely on rigid physics models, this new approach offers a higher degree of realism and adaptability. It allows for continuous, large-scale testing, where autonomous vehicles can drive uninterrupted while thousands of unique scenarios unfold, all without requiring manual setup or intervention. This also leads to the automatic collection of performance metrics, streamlining the evaluation process.
This mixed reality innovation has already made a significant impact on Waabi’s progress. Earlier this year, the company’s autonomous system reached a feature-complete stage, meaning it now possesses all the capabilities required for fully driverless operation. Currently, only Waabi and another company, Aurora, have achieved this milestone in the field of long-haul autonomous trucking.
Further enhancing its trajectory, Waabi confirmed a strategic alliance in February with Volvo Autonomous Solutions. The partnership is focused on jointly developing and deploying autonomous trucking solutions, aiming to bring the technology closer to commercial readiness.
Toronto-based Waabi has also secured robust financial backing, raising a total of $280 million. Its most substantial funding came through a $200 million Series B round completed in 2024. This round saw investment from key industry players, including Nvidia, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Scania Invest, and Ingka Investments.
As Waabi continues to integrate advanced AI with practical testing infrastructure, the company’s approach offers a potential blueprint for the future of safe and scalable autonomous vehicle development.
