Automotive supplier's active safety sensor technology plays key role in
effort by Carnegie Mellon University's Tartan Racing team
VICTORVILLE, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnegie Mellon
University's Tartan Racing team, sponsored in part by Continental
Automotive Systems, began today's race from the Pole Position this morning
and sped onto the course at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) Urban Challenge, held at the former George Air Force Base in
Victorville, Calif.
Continental, a global leader in active safety technology, is providing
five radar sensors to each of the team's two vehicles, only one of which
will actually compete in the Urban Challenge. These sensors are positioned
on a Chevy Tahoe to provide its artificial intelligence with a 360-degree
view of the environment. They can detect objects at distances of up to 200
meters, and are especially effective at determining the speed of moving
objects around the autonomous vehicle. Two Continental laser sensors
mounted on Boss provide similar information on the driving environment, but
use light rather than radar waves to gather data.
In total, the vehicle is equipped with 27 sensors and a unit that
combines GPS and inertial measurements. Together with Continental sensor
data fusion technology and expertise -- provided by embedded engineer
Michael Darms -- the data is combined into a precise picture of the driving
environment for Boss to consider as it traverses the course. The sensors
provide Boss with a clear perception of the roadway and any obstacles it
must overcome. Then, its advanced behavior algorithms decide on the best
option to plan its way through the urban course. More than one sensor is
pointed in each direction, providing redundancy and complementarity.
The autonomous vehicles in the DARPA Urban Challenge were required to
navigate, park and handle traffic on a 60-mile suburban course within a
six- hour time limit. The vehicles operated without human guidance and
relied only on sensors and computers. They also had to obey traffic laws,
merge into moving traffic, avoid obstacles and negotiate intersections. The
Tartan racing Team competed against nearly about a dozen challengers.
About Tartan Racing
Tartan Racing is committed to automotive safety and convenience, and to
the broader future of robotics. Tartan Racing's self-driving Chevy Tahoe,
called "Boss," includes ten computers with 200,000 lines of software at the
wheel, along with lasers, radars and cameras that sense roads and other
cars. Boss already has logged hundreds of test miles. Two identical
versions of Boss have been developed to enable extra testing and
experience. Only one competed in the Urban Challenge, since only one
vehicle is permitted per team.
In addition to Continental, other major sponsors of Tartan Racing
include General Motors and Caterpillar. Additional sponsors include Intel,
Google, Applanix, TeleAtlas, NetApp, Vector CANTech, Ibeo, Mobileye, HP,
CarSim, Clean Power Resources and M/A-COM. Tartan Racing includes team
members from Carnegie Mellon and sponsors.
About Continental
The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of brake
systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical
elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realized sales of EUR14.9 billion. At
present it has a worldwide workforce of around 89,000.
As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive
industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates
extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of active and
passive driving safety, embedded telematics and hands-free communication
systems, power-train and comfort. In 2006 the Division achieved sales of
approx. Euro 6 billion with a workforce of more than 30,000. Continental
Automotive Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake,
stability and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems,
sensors, engine management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives,
cooling fan modules, body and security electronics and also is the industry
leader of embedded telematics and communication systems in vehicles.
SOURCE Continental Automotive Systems
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Related links:
http://www.contiautomotive.com
http://www.conti-online.com
CONTACT:
Jim Gill, Director of Communications,
Continental Automotive Systems Div. N.A., +1-248-882-6309,
jim.gill@us.contiautomotive.com
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