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 (ICT) using micro- and nanoelectronics, today announced a pilot program to characterize and assess LiDAR sensors to improve performance and safety of autonomous vehicles.

Transdev’s latest innovative transportation technologies already allow to operate fleets of autonomous vehicles for shared mobility. The perception of the environment through sensors is essential to offer the best client experience in terms of comfort and operation speed guaranteeing the required level of safety and security. Evaluating sensor effectiveness and robustness is critical to develop the Transdev’s Autonomous Transport System that will allow the operation of autonomous vehicles fleets in a maximum of environmental conditions safely and securely.

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 Leti CEO Emmanuel Sabonnadière. “This project will build on Leti's sensor-fusion knowhow and sensor development expertise to strengthen Transdev’s testing and evaluation of sensors for its vehicles.”

Yann Leriche, Transdev’s CEO North America, said: “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”.