TRI-AD Enables Successful Creation of HD Maps for Automated Driving on Surface Roads

Ongoing partner collaboration to promote further accuracy

 

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 10 March 2020 – Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc.
(“TRI-AD”), Toyota’s automated driving software development company, has successfully completed proof of concepts (“PoC”) demonstrating high
definition (“HD”) map building for surface roads with relative accuracy of less
than 50 centimeters, a good level that is required for automated driving.

 

In these PoCs, TRI-AD verified that both following methods are effective for HD map building:

1. Building map
information for automated driving via map data derived from the
cameras of ordinary vehicles as well as satellite
imagery, without the use of conventional means
of collecting data such as survey vehicles.

2. Applying
vehicle data from TRI-AD’s
Automated Mapping Platform (“AMP”) to other
companies’ platforms by converting data formats and applying correcting algorithms.

 

By utilizing the results of these PoCs, it is expected that
the delay in updating HD maps for automated driving can be
shortened, areas of HD map coverage can be expanded quickly, and costs
to build and maintain the HD maps can be substantially
reduced.

Summary of PoC results:

Maxar Technologies (“Maxar”), a trusted partner and innovator in Earth
Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, Japan’s leading IT services provider NTT
DATA Corporation (“NTT DATA”), and TRI-AD are collaborating on a proof of
concept to build automated HD maps for automated vehicles using the
highest-resolution commercial satellite imagery since April 25^th,
2019. The PoC demonstrates it is now possible to automatically extract the
required map information by analyzing and removing and correcting non-map image
pixels such as automobiles, shadows, and occlusions due to the inclination of
buildings in satellite imagery. Currently, maps with a relative accuracy of 25
centimeters^*1 were created within the 23 wards in Tokyo, as well as
6 cities globally, and were verified to be useful for automated driving
purposes. (Refer to Image 1, 2 and 3.)

TRI-AD and a leading road intelligence platform, CARMERA
Inc. (“CARMERA”), have successfully conducted a camera-based HD mapping
initiative. As part of their global partnership, the collaboration used
“dashcam” drive recorders to detect and place key road features – such as lane
markings, traffic signals and signs – within the 23 wards in Tokyo and 2 cities
in the United States. The project achieved a relative accuracy of 40
centimeters^*1 for key navigation features – a major advance in
camera-only detection. TRI-AD’s work with CARMERA used the same
hardware-agnostic computer vision and processing technology as CARMERA’s
Real-Time Events and Change Management engine, which detects, validates and
delivers navigation-critical updates to CARMERA’s regenerative HD mapping
system in minutes rather than months. By using consumer-grade vehicle cameras
that are common around the world, TRI-AD and CARMERA showcased a scalable
approach to next-generation map making.

TRI-AD also collaborated on a PoC with TomTom International BV.
(“TomTom”), a leading independent location technology specialist.

 

Together, the companies showed that lower-class roads (urban roads),
including lane markings necessary for automated driving, could be successfully
created or updated in near real-time on TomTom’s HD map. The solution was
achieved by verifying the reliability of the vehicle data collected by TRI-AD’s
AMP, and then converting it for input into TomTom’s cloud-based transactional
mapmaking platform.

TRI-AD has collaborated with a world’s leading location data and
technology platform, HERE Technologies (“HERE”) for this PoC. Correcting the
positional errors in the vehicle data collected by TRI-AD, HERE was able to
automatically create surface road maps using HERE’s advanced “Self-Healing”
technology. By using only vehicle sensor data, HERE ingested the data into its
platform and automatically generated HD maps including lane level information
required for automated driving. HERE’s HD Live Map has already been selected to
power some of the world’s most prestigious OEM’s Level 3 automated vehicle programs.

Mandali Khalesi, Vice President of
Automated Driving Strategy and Mapping at TRI-AD, said:

“I’m very pleased to announce the results of the PoCs with Maxar and NTT
DATA, and CARMERA, and also the results of our new demonstration partners,
TomTom and HERE. We got a step closer to a future where automated driving
becomes a safer and more accessible technology for all. We will continue to
cooperate with partners as we further refine our accuracy.”

Notes

*1 Reference values ​​in some environments with good data
accuracy in the target areas of these PoCs.

About TRI-AD

Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc.
(TRI-AD), located in Tokyo, Japan, was founded in March 2018 for the purpose of
developing innovative products that will enable Toyota’s vision, “Mobility for
All.” TRI-AD’s mission is to create new technology and advanced safety systems
for the world. TRI-AD also oversees Toyota’s newly announced Woven City, that
will serve as an incubator for smart city design, connected mobility, and
robotics technology from Toyota and its partners.

For more information about TRI-AD, please visit:  www.tri-ad.global.