TOKYO, May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- TIER IV, a pioneer in open-source autonomous
driving (AD) technology, today announced an exciting initiative
aimed at shaping the future of highway trucking. In response to
driver shortage challenges facing Japan's cargo industry, the company is set to
develop a new function for highway trucking and conduct proof of
concept (PoC) tests on Japan's
public highways, starting from fiscal year 2024. By developing a
reference design for commercial truck manufacturers, TIER IV is
fully dedicated to facilitating the deployment of autonomous
driving.
The reference design will encompass the core functionalities of
the open-source software, Autoware*, as well as advanced features
developed through collaborations with partner companies. For the
upcoming PoC tests, TIER IV is integrating the Mapless Autonomy
Platform from a German start-up, driveblocks, into its AD software.
Using driveblocks' software allows AD platforms to navigate using
perception, rather than high-definition (HD) maps, a method proven
effective in Europe's challenging
routes, such as the Brenner Pass.
Video : Mapless Autonomy Platform used during a trucking test in
Europe
The integration of driveblocks' technology is particularly
valuable for TIER IV's highway trucking initiative, as it creates a
redundant safety layer and a secondary path for situations where HD
maps become unavailable or outdated, including new construction
areas. Recent closed-loop PoC tests conducted on a multi-lane test
track in Japan demonstrated the
combined power of the companies' technologies for highway trucking
scenarios.
TIER IV and driveblocks have also conducted a PoC test on
highways, achieving reliable perception and accurate road corridor
modeling at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) under
various driving conditions, including standard highway scenarios
and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied environments
like tunnels and other low-light settings. TIER IV will place a
strong emphasis on continuing to develop robust object detection
capabilities, enabling autonomous trucks to perceive their
surroundings and navigate safely on the highway, especially in
complex scenarios with diverse objects like merging vehicles and
debris.
Video: Data from a PoC test conducted on a highway in
Japan shows two forward-facing
camera views with detected lane markings overlaid (left) and a
bird's-eye depiction of road corridors
Through this new initiative, TIER IV is poised to steer the
deployment of autonomous driving for highway trucking, making a
significant leap forward in the industry.
*Autoware is a registered trademark of The Autoware
Foundation.
About TIER IV
TIER IV, the pioneering force behind the world's first
open-source software for autonomous driving Autoware, offers a
range of advanced AD products and solutions, encompassing both
software and hardware across multiple platforms. The company is
steering the development of safe and efficient autonomous driving
technology, aiming to reimagine intelligent vehicles through the
art of open source. A founding member of the Autoware Foundation,
TIER IV conducts cutting-edge research and development in
collaboration with partners worldwide, harnessing Autoware to
accelerate the rollout of autonomous vehicles that will benefit
society as a whole.
About driveblocks
Founded in December 2021 in
Garching near Munich, driveblocks
offers a modular software platform for automated and autonomous
driving in the commercial vehicle sector. The founding team has
many years of experience in the development of algorithms for
automated driving. The core technology of driveblocks is a
combination of Transformer Neural Networks and sensor fusion to
create an environment model based on sensor data. Unlike map-based
technologies, there is no need for pre-mapping and constant
updating of maps in the cloud. The offering is complemented by
algorithms that enable customers to fully automate their vehicles.
The driveblocks platform is sold both as individual modules and as
a system solution via a licensing model, enabling safe, fast and
cost-effective automation of a wide range of applications - in
mines, in container terminals or on the motorway.
Media Contact
pr@tier4.jp
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SOURCE TIER IV, Inc.