Unmanned Systems Technology 019 | Navya Autonom Cab | Batteries | UGVs Insight | UAV Factory UAV28-EFI | Swiss Aerobotics Hummel | UMEX 2018 report | Antennas | Oceanology International 2018 report

26 Essential Lidars The Cab’s sensor suite could be described as ‘Lidar heavy’ because the vehicle sports a total of ten of these active laser sensors, seven of which are long-range Scala devices from Valeo, complemented by three short-range ones from Velodyne. The Scalas transmit in an eye-safe infrared waveband centred on 905 nm. They cover 145° azimuth sectors with a resolution of 0.25° out to a typical range of more than 200 m with a range resolution better than 0.1 m and a velocity measurement accuracy of 0.25°, the company claims. Four stacked beams each subtending an angle of 0.8° in elevation create a total vertical field of view of 3.2°. The data refresh cycle is stated as taking between 40 and 80 µs. Embedded software implements feature-based tracking of detected objects. The Scalas are packaged in modules that measure 105 x 60 x 100 mm and weigh 600 g, with a CAN interface for vehicle data and an Ethernet interface for wider system comms. According to Valeo, each Scala consumes less than 7 W. Close-in situational awareness is aided by the three Velodyne VLP-16 Puck Lidars, which operate on a waveband centred on 903 nm and qualify as eye- safe according to the EC 60825-1:2007 and 2014 standards. Measuring ranges up to 100 m with a typical accuracy of ±3 cm, each covers 360° in azimuth while rotating at between five and 20 cycles per second. They cover ±15° in elevation with a stack of 16 beams providing an angular resolution of 2° vertically and 0.1° to 0.4° in azimuth. Weighing 830 g plus the cabling and interface box, each VLP-16 is 103 mm in diameter and 72 mm in height, and consumes about 8 W at an operating voltage of 9-18 V. Over a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet connection, the VLP-16 outputs UDP packets containing time-of-flight distance measurements, calibrated reflectivity measurements, rotation April/May 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology Dossier | Navya Autonom Cab One of the four long-range Lidars at the front and rear corners of the vehicle, all mounted in the valance mouldings (Courtesy of Navya) The VLP-16 Puck Lidars’ role is to detect and range both static and moving obstacles all around the vehicle with precision (Courtesy of Navya) The sensor suite could be described as ‘Lidar heavy’ as the Cab sports ten of them – seven long-range and three short