Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - May 2021 - 32

New Tools & Technologies
AI platform-compatible sensor families

Indoor mapping technology

OmniVision Technologies
(Santa Clara, Calif.) has unveiled the first group of
OmniVision automotive image
sensor families compatible with
the modular NVIDIA (Santa
Clara, Calif.) DRIVE AGX AI
computing platform for self-driving vehicles. OmniVision created
drivers and camera modules using its OX08B40 image sensor for
front-view automotive applications, including ADAS and Level 3+
autonomous systems. Likewise, drivers and camera modules are
now available for its OX03F10 and OX03C10 viewing camera image sensors, allowing the development of surround view systems
(SVSs), rearview cameras (RVCs) and e-mirror camera monitoring
systems with NVIDIA DRIVE. In addition, OmniVision's OV2311
and a new 5MP sensor are the exclusive driver monitoring system
(DMS) image sensors for the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion turnkey
evaluation architecture. Regardless of the application, OmniVision
offers platform software drivers for its image sensors, as well as
complete camera modules that customers can easily connect to
the NVIDIA DRIVE platform for immediate evaluation. OmniVision
also provides custom tuning services.

The production version of
Parkopedia's (London,
U.K.) indoor mapping services for use in vehicle
navigation systems uses
indoor maps based on
high-definition 3D models
of indoor parking facilities, where GPS signal is typically restricted. It can be used to deliver the following key use cases: in-vehicle indoor navigation - no GPS dead zones; precise indoor positioning - locate your vehicle; and automated valet parking, as
self-parking cars require indoor maps. As the automotive industry embraces a connected future, Parkopedia says indoor mapping technology will deliver further key benefits to users. For
drivers, this would mean never being lost again within parking
facilities and enabling end-to-end, uninterrupted navigation to
available parking spaces, independent of GPS availability. In addition, vehicle indoor positioning without GPS is a fundamental
step in enabling autonomous parking. Parkopedia has mapped
key parking facilities across Europe and shortly plans to expand
into new regions to meet growing demands.
For more information, visit http://info.hotims.com/79449-452

For more information, visit http://info.hotims.com/79449-450

Radar-absorbing compounds

AR/VR 2D imaging colorimeter

SABIC's (Houston, Texas) two
new radar-absorbing LNP STATKON compounds for automotive
radar sensors expand its portfolio of these specialty materials.
The new grades, based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin, may be used for integration
with radomes manufactured using PBT material, which can provide resistance to automotive chemicals. They complement and
extend SABIC's existing radar-absorbing LNP STAT-KON compounds, which are based on polyetherimide (PEI) resin for
withstanding higher processing temperatures or on polycarbonate (PC) resin for general applications that require high
durability and a balance of physical properties. The high radio
frequency (RF) absorption of these compounds can help increase detection range and improve signal resolution. A broader choice of radar absorbing LNP STAT-KON compounds can
help manufacturers to increase flexibility in sensor positioning
and function and to help design sensors that can be optimized
for vehicle size and other variables.

Perfect user experience for AR/
VR headsets requires extensive,
fast, and highly accurate optical
tests during production.
Instrument Systems' (Munich,
Germany) developed the LumiTop
AR/VR 2D imaging colorimeter to
meet this specific challenge. The LumiTop's AR/VR lens simulates the human eye and measures color and luminance exactly as seen by the user. A wide camera field of view (120°),
various pupil sizes and an adjustable focus distance facilitate
a wide range of testing applications. According to the company, the unique periscope lens design guarantees easy access
to the near-eye displays (NED) and enables an optimal measurement position, even under the tight spatial constraints of
fully assembled headsets. A hardware trigger enables synchronized one-shot, two-eye measurements with two
LumiTops. The colorimeter is based on the proven LumiTop
principle. While an RGB camera takes the image of the NED in
one shot, a reference spectroradiometer corrects the results
to yield highly accurate absolute luminance and color values.

For more information, visit http://info.hotims.com/79449-451

For more information, visit http://info.hotims.com/79449-453

32 May 2021

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENGINEERING

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Autonomous Vehicle Engineering - May 2021

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