Parallel Domain, a pioneer in synthetic data generation and simulation for autonomous systems, today unveiled PD Replica, a groundbreaking product that generates high-fidelity digital twins from real-world photos, videos, and 3D scans, transforming the way autonomous vehicles are developed and tested.

PD Replica empowers customers to create near-perfect virtual replicas of real-world environments, from city streets to highways, by leveraging AI and advanced 3D reconstruction techniques. The product transforms everyday data captured by cameras, smartphones, and drones into immersive, semantically-rich 3D worlds, enabling autonomous vehicle developers to test their AI systems in high-fidelity simulations that mirror real-world conditions with unprecedented accuracy.

“With PD Replica, the big leap forward is we’ve never had a way — and really, nobody’s had a way — to create these pixel-accurate copies of actual locations,” said Kevin McNamara, founder and CEO of Parallel Domain, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “It’s the closest thing you can get to testing in the real world without testing in the real world.”

The implications of PD Replica are far-reaching. Autonomous vehicle developers (many of whom are already working with Parallel Domain) can now test their systems in high-fidelity simulations without the risks and logistical challenges of physical testing. This technology opens up new possibilities for the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles — and in the near future could serve other industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, supply chain, logistics, agriculture, and more.