LETI Announces Project To Adapt Obstacle-Detection Technology Used In Autonomous Cars For Multiple Uses

INSPEX to Combine Knowhow of Nine European Organizations to Create Portable and Wearable Spatial-Exploration Systems

“Sophisticated obstacle-detection systems such as those in autonomous vehicles are typically large and heavy, have high power consumption and require large computational capabilities,” said Suzanne Lesecq, project coordinator at Leti. “The INSPEX team will work together to miniaturize and adapt this technology for individual and personal applications, which will require even greater capability for all-conditions obstacle detection. The project is a strong example of European innovation to bring leading-edge technology to a broader segment of users.”

In addition to applications for the visually impaired, drones and robots, the INSPEX system application domains are expected to include:

• Human mobility – First responders, disabled persons
• Instrumentation – Distance-measuring tools
• Smart homes and factories – Assembly machines, security surveillance systems

Joining Leti in the project are:

• University of Manchester, UK
• Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland
• STMicroelectronics SRL, Italy
• Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology CSEM, Switzerland
• Tyndall National Institute University College Cork, Ireland
• University of Namur ASBL, Belgium
• GoSense, France
• SensL Technologies Ltd., Ireland

The INSPEX demonstrator will integrate the INSPEX mobile detection device into a white cane for the visually impaired. For this application, an Augmented Reality Audio Interface will be integrated to provide spatial 3D sound feedback using extra-auricular earphones. This feedback will take into account head attitude, tracked by an AHRS in the headset, to provide 3D spatial sound feedback of an obstacle’s real direction and range. The context-aware communications will integrate the user with wider smart environments such as smart traffic lights, navigation beacons and ID tags associated with IoT objects. The user’s mobile device will allow integration with, for example, mapping apps.