CARMERA and TRI-AD Demonstrate Further Progress on Urban and Highway Mapping in Japan and the US

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oyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc. (TRI-AD) and leading road intelligence company CARMERA Inc. (CARMERA) announced new results from their ongoing partnership.

A follow-up to the companies' successful camera-based mapping work in Tokyo, this latest phase used commercially available dashboard-mounted cameras to detect key road features with the relative accuracy performance necessary for automated driving. Specifically, CARMERA's machine learning, computer vision and geospatial technologies were used to detect and place key road features—such as lane markings, traffic signals and signs—along Michigan roadways in central Detroit and Ann Arbor.

These results validate TRI-AD and CARMERA's vision to use street-level cameras from production vehicles, as well as aftermarket telematics systems, to produce comprehensive, accurate mapping data for both horizontal and vertically positioned roadway features. This shared objective stems from both companies' mission to achieve significant reduction in costs and massive expansion in geographic scope of autonomy, allowing it to scale to more people in more places.

Our work together demonstrates the power of developing systems that are built to take advantage of the ubiquity—and understand the constraints—of automotive technology widely in use today, said Ro Gupta, CEO of CARMERA. It shows that with the right approach, companies like TRI-AD can start building the data necessary for automated driving, without having to rely on expensive or proprietary third-party hardware. TRI-AD is embracing its leadership position here, and we're proud to help accelerate this pursuit.

The initiative between the two companies used the same technology that powers 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. Hardware-agnostic, yet anchored to ground truth, the technology unlocks the potential of lower cost sensors and the vast array of existing vehicle probes to help maintain HD maps everywhere.

CARMERA's approach has made them a valued partner for our mission, said Mandali Khalesi, Vice President of Automated Driving Strategy and Mapping at TRI-AD. Through the use of production vehicle cameras, we have explored the range of widely available sensor inputs we can draw from, as we look to give automated vehicles around the world a deeper, more accurate understanding of their environments, for a safer driving experience for all.

The companies look to continue their work, as TRI-AD and CARMERA continue to expand their respective technology, partnership and data platforms.

✔️ CARMERA and TRI-AD Demonstrate Further Progress on Urban and Highway Mapping in Japan and the US

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