Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development Inc. (TRI-AD) and Carmera Inc. have announced the new results from their ongoing partnership.

During the latest phase, commercially available dashboard-mounted cameras were used to detect key road features with the relative accuracy performance necessary for automated driving. Using a combination of Carmera’s technologies, key road features such as lane markings, traffic signals and signs were detected and placed along Michigan roadways in central Detroit and Ann Arbor.

The companies say that these results validate their shared 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 is a result of both companies’ mission to achieve significant reduction in costs and massive expansion in geographic scope of autonomy, which would allow 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,” explains 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.”

During the initiative, TRI-AD and Carmera 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 as opposed to months.

The technology is hardware-agnostic, but is anchored to “ground truth,” the companies say. They add that 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,” says 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.”