Tekcapital’s portfolio company Guident has announced a significant expansion of its autonomous vehicle safety technology patents, with new approvals granted in South Korea and the United States.
According to a Tekcapital announcement released on Wednesday, Guident has received Notices of Allowance for patent applications covering artificial intelligence-powered remote monitoring and control software for autonomous vehicles in South Korea.
The global expansion of the patent portfolio comes as Guident prepares for a NASDAQ listing.
The newly approved patents protect Guident’s innovative remote monitor and control centre (RMCC) system, which utilises distributed sensor fusion and artificial intelligence to enhance autonomous vehicle safety.
The technology is designed to monitor multiple self-driving vehicles simultaneously, collecting sensor data not only from vehicles under its direct control but also from independently operated autonomous vehicles in the vicinity.
When the system detects that a vehicle is operating at an unsafe risk level, it can take immediate control of the vehicle, implement necessary safety measures, and return control once safe operation is restored.
Global Patent Protection
These latest approvals significantly strengthen Guident’s international intellectual property portfolio in autonomous vehicle safety technology. The company now holds granted or validated patents across multiple jurisdictions worldwide, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Canada.
The European coverage is particularly comprehensive, with patent protection secured in 20 European Union countries. These include major markets such as Germany, France, and Italy, alongside Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Growing Autonomous Vehicle Market
The timing of these patent approvals coincides with the rapid expansion of the global autonomous vehicle market.
As self-driving technology becomes increasingly prevalent, safety systems like Guident’s remote monitoring capabilities are expected to play a crucial role in public acceptance and regulatory approval of autonomous vehicles.
Each jurisdiction is developing its own framework for AV safety, with many incorporating remote control and monitoring system requirements.