Pittsburgh-based Ansys, an engineering simulation company, recently partnered with Velodyne, a LIDAR solutions company, to develop software models of next-generation automotive LIDAR sensors for highly advanced autonomous vehicles (AVs).
The sensors will provide improved hazard identification capabilities. Ansys will incorporate Velodyne’s encrypted black box physics-based LIDAR sensor model into VRXPERIENCE, the company’s interactive driving simulator that models, evaluates, and validates LIDAR designs within a realistic virtual environment. This is expected to expedite automakers’ integration of Velodyne’s sensor into AVs and reduce development costs by enhancing LIDAR placement within AVs and validating AV performance.
“As part of Ansys’ AV ecosystem, Velodyne is helping to define the landscape of safe autonomous driving,” Prith Banerjee, Ansys chief technology officer, said. “Velodyne’s leading-edge automotive LIDAR greatly increases the safety and reliability of ADAS, powering highly intelligent AVs that improve decision making across many complex edge case scenarios. Using VRXPERIENCE, (original equipment manufacturers) will validate the LIDAR’s software stack and have full access to a validated sensor model while preserving Velodyne’s IP. This will enable Velodyne to rapidly and cost-effectively design trailblazing LIDAR sensors and significantly speed delivery to market.”
Dependably testing and recognizing potentially dangerous edge case scenarios is one of the challenges facing many advanced driver assistance systems.