CEA Tech, Transdev, IRT Nanoelec Launch Lidar Pilot Program

A pilot program to characterize and assess lidar sensors to improve performance and safety of autonomous vehicles has been announced by Leti, a research institute at CEA Tech; Transdev, a leading global provider of mobility services; and IRT Nanoelec, an R&D center focused on information and communication technologies using micro- and nanoelectronics. In the pilot program, Leti teams will focus on perception requirements and challenges from a lidar system perspective and evaluate the sensors in real-world conditions. Vehicles will be exposed to objects with varying reflectivity, such as tires and street signs, as well as environmental conditions, such as weather, available light and fog. In addition to evaluating the sensors’ performance, the project will produce a list of criteria and objective parameters by which various commercial lidar systems could be evaluated. “As an innovative supplier of autonomous transportation vehicles for smart cities, Transdev is leading the procession toward responsive, efficient, and safe services with buses and shuttles,” said Emmanuel Sabonnadière, CEO of Leti. “This project will build on Leti's sensor fusion know-how and sensor development expertise to strengthen Transdev’s testing and evaluation of sensors for its vehicles.” Transdev’s latest transportation technologies already allow to operate fleets of autonomous vehicles for shared mobility. Evaluating sensor effectiveness and robustness is critical to develop its Autonomous Transport System that will allow the operation of autonomous vehicles fleets in a maximum of environmental conditions safely and securely. “Providing the best client experience with the guarantee of safety, security, and quality of service, will confirm Transdev as a pioneer in integrating autonomous transport systems into global mobility networks,” said Yann Leriche, Transdev’s North American CEO. Leti, a technology research institute at CEA Tech, is a global leader in miniaturization technologies enabling smart, energy-efficient, and secure solutions for industry. CEA Tech is the technology research branch of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), focused on R&D, defense and security, nuclear energy, technological research for industry, and fundamental science. Transdev is a provider of mobility services, supporting public transport authorities in activities ranging from pre-project phase to project management assistance to daily operation of public transport networks.