RICHMOND HILL, Ontario,
June 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- Applanix, a Trimble Company, announced today that it
is collaborating on advanced research for autonomous vehicle
guidance and control systems with the University of Waterloo Centre in Ontario, Canada for Automotive Research
(WatCAR). Applanix will provide WatCAR with its
industry-leading Positioning and Orientation System (POS) for
testing autonomous guidance and control systems in real-world
conditions. Applanix will also provide the Trimble GNSS-Inertial
board set for integration with car systems and sensors to enable
precise positioning.
The Applanix POS LV is an industry leader in robust, reliable
and repeatable positioning solutions for on- and off-road vehicles.
Applanix technology will be used by WatCAR to assess the
performance of the guidance and control systems on board their
autonomous vehicles. This testing will take place in challenging
weather conditions and environments including on roads under
repair, with lane reductions and closures, are wet or covered in
snow, and where there is poor visibility.
Applanix will also provide WatCAR with Trimble on-board
GNSS-Inertial board set designed for high-performance, high-volume
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) applications. These products,
currently used in a variety of autonomous vehicle programs, include
the Trimble® AP GNSS-Inertial board set that includes a
high-precision Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Small, rugged and
low powered, the AP board sets provide the precise positioning
needed for autonomous vehicle applications as they navigate their
environment. Ideal for use on all sizes and types of vehicles, the
AP boards feature Trimble's high-performance precision GNSS
receivers and Applanix' industry-leading IN-Fusion™ GNSS-Inertial
integrated technology that produces uninterrupted position, roll,
pitch and true heading measurements of moving platforms.
Integrating easily with vehicle sensors, the AP board sets are
essential for precise vehicle control when interacting with a
constantly changing environment.
Applanix' deep expertise in these autonomous technologies is
part of a broader Trimble solutions portfolio for automation and
vehicle autonomy, which began more than three decades ago. Trimble
has a long history of using automation to improve safety and
productivity—from pioneering automated blade control for
earthmoving and providing positioning solutions for some of the
earliest robotic applications in the 1990s to delivering automated
steering for farmers and providing positioning technology for fully
autonomous off- and on-highway trucks. In addition, Trimble further
enables high-accuracy solutions by leveraging its global
infrastructure to deliver GNSS corrections to support autonomous
operations globally. The relationship with WatCAR will aid in
improving the core technologies that deliver high-end systems
capabilities for a variety of Trimble markets.
"We are excited to collaborate with the University of Waterloo and WatCAR on this leading
research in autonomous vehicle technology," said Louis Nastro,
Director of Land Products at Applanix. "Applanix has been committed
to meeting the needs of autonomous vehicle manufacturers for more
than a decade, as first demonstrated in the early days of the DARPA
Grand Challenge. And today, we are also part of many autonomous
vehicle programs deployed worldwide in commercial
applications."
"The Trimble AP products, first introduced in 2009, are designed
for use in small, mass market vehicles where size, weight and cost
factors are important. They have also been designed to easily
integrate with the industry's leading sensors, making them an ideal
solution for autonomous vehicle navigation systems and
sub-systems," said Nastro.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with Applanix, a leader in
reference systems. Their technology identifies, with very high
accuracy, the exact location of our vehicle at all times,"
said Ross McKenzie, Managing Director of WatCAR.
"Applanix is a valued industry partner and their team is great to
work with. Going forward we anticipate a solution that will enable
autonomous vehicles to traverse the real world reliably and
safely."
About WatCAR
The Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) conducts
advanced research to further automotive innovation and
competitiveness. From active safety to automated driving
through lightweighting and advanced powertrains, 130 faculty
researchers comprise the largest university-based automotive
activity in the country. Leading-edge studies for industry
partners around the world enhance vehicles, components, and their
materials with new approaches and integration of innovative
technologies.
For more information visit:
https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-automotive-research.
About Applanix
Applanix, a Trimble Company (NASDAQ: TRMB), develops,
manufactures, sells and supports products and solutions for mobile
mapping and positioning. Applanix' products and solutions are used
in a variety of applications, including autonomous vehicles, road
profiling, GIS data acquisition, aerial surveying and mapping,
railroad track maintenance and seafloor mapping. Established in
1991, Applanix supports its growing global customer base with
exceptional service.
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SOURCE Applanix