EasyMile will use Velodyne Lidar sensors to enhance its fleet of EZ10 autonomous shuttles.
The companies recently reached a three-year agreement, according to a news release, meaning Velodyne’s sensors will safely and efficiently navigate the autonomous passenger shuttles as they travel on public and private roads in more than 30 countries.
“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,” EasyMile Managing Director and COO Benoit Perrin said, according to the release. “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 and can operate in various 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 electric shuttle they power has capacity for 15 passengers and includes a built-in automated electric ramp to support accessibility for riders with disabilities.
“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,” EasyMile’s Director of Product Marketing Olivier Pairot said, according to the release. “Velodyne lidars along with radar scan for objects, vehicles, animals and people that might pose a collision threat, feeding that information to the vehicle’s control software. 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.”