AV advances step up

Further development of autonomous vehicles (AV) is included under an extended collaboration between two key associated product firms.

A global leader in Level 1-5 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD), LeddarTech is expanding its collaboration with Renesas by joining the R-Car Consortium and developing the automotive ADAS reference platform.

This platform combines LeddarTech’s raw data sensor fusion stack and Lidar technology with Renesas’ newly launched R-Car V3U – an ASIL D system-on-chip (SoC) for ADAS and AD systems – supporting AV development.

Renesas is already investing in LeddarTech SoC development and production for the LeddarEngine, comprising Lidar SoCs the LCA2 and LCA3 and accompanying Lidar measurement software.

These SoCs power the most cost-efficient Lidars enabling mass deployment of advanced level 2 and 3 passenger car ADAS applications and a broad range of mobility and industrial applications, LeddarTech says.

This automotive ADAS reference platform expands the companies’ collaboration to the system level with a sensor fusion solution applicable to the camera and Radar sensor-based systems plus systems that add Lidar to deliver higher safety and performance.

These improvements are achieved with a software-centric and extensible architecture compatible with the Renesas R-Car V3U processor and roadmap.

“The expanded collaboration with LeddarTech on this project introduces a higher performance ADAS system optimised for power and cost compatible with high volume deployment to the market,” Renesas automotive solution business unit deputy general manager Tomomitsu Maoka says.

“The combination of LeddarTech’s sensor fusion and Lidar technologies in an open platform model and Renesas’ R-Car V3U technology will help our customers develop value-added and differentiated solutions in this rapidly evolving ADAS and AD market.”

LeddarTech chief executive Charles Boulanger says collaboration on this project accelerates the market introduction of a safer and cost-efficient ADAS system that offers an improved user experience.

“The solution also enables software for extensible and upgradable ADAS and AD platforms, accelerating subsequent innovation and development cycles.”

LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions from Level 1-5, the platform actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart city/factory, and robotaxi applications.

The company has more than 95 patented technologies (granted or pending) enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.