EasyMile and Velodyne Lidar, Inc., have entered a three-year agreement, allowing EasyMile to use Velodyne’s lidar sensors in production of its EZ10 autonomous passenger shuttles.
“For precise navigation in real time, the EZ10s use our algorithm that fuses data from a variety of perception sensors, including lidar and camera and localization sensors, including GPS, INS and odometry. Velodyne lidar, along with radar, scans for objects, vehicles, animals and people that might pose a collision threat, feeding that information to the vehicle’s control software,” said Olivier Pairot, EasyMile’s director of product marketing. “By utilizing Velodyne sensors, we are able to best gather information on every part of our environment, both close to the vehicle and at longer ranges.”
EasyMile will enhance its EZ10 shuttle fleet with Velodyne’s sensors for safe and efficient navigation on roadways. The EZ10 shuttle, both electric and driverless, launched in April 2015. It has a track record of more than 200 deployments and more than 600,000 km (372,822 miles) driven in autonomous mode. The shuttle, which has capacity for up to 15 passengers, includes a built-in automated electric ramp to support accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
“Velodyne’s high performance lidar technology is a key component in enabling our autonomous vehicles to deliver smart mobility in urban, suburban and private environments,” said Benoit Perrin, managing director and COO, EasyMile. “Velodyne’s solutions have the reliability, quality and production scale we are looking for to continue to grow our fleet worldwide.”
Velodyne’s sensors are optimized for indoor and outdoor performance, operating in a variety of light conditions. By combining high-resolution 3D perception with a broad vertical field of view, the sensors can accurately detect a variety of objects.
“The EasyMile EZ10 provides a shared, inclusive driverless shuttle solution that improves public transport by connecting hubs and in many cases, delivers a transport service where there otherwise wasn’t one available,” said Erich Smidt, executive director Europe, Velodyne Lidar. “These shuttles show how Velodyne lidar sensors provide real-time perception data that enables safe and reliable operation for autonomous vehicles across business parks, public transport connections, university campuses and more.”
