- The system is fed by information captured by the vehicle’s cameras and data from different sensors, which provide information about vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and road conditions
- Thanks to this technology, it is possible to envision driverless cabs or home delivery without a delivery person
- The new platform is based on the latest Xilinx processor, a technology IKERLAN masters, being one of the only three centres in Spain to have engineers certified by the Silicon Valley company
The mobility of the future will be sustainable, safe and connected. The automotive industry must urgently solve technological challenges derived from this new model. In this context, IKERLAN, a technology centre, and IDNEO, a Spanish multi-sector technology company, are an important step ahead towards a new mobility model by means of the joint development of hardware that will enable vehicles to perform autonomous driving roles safely. The developed solution is based on the latest XILINX processor (MPSoC), a technology mastered by IKERLAN, whose workforce is composed of a team of experienced engineers certified by the American multinational.
The new platform receives images from cameras located throughout the vehicle, as well as data from various sensors that provide information about other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and road conditions. The software sends this information in real time through the vehicle’s in-vehicle network, enabling immediate and safe decision-making. This large volume of information allows the system to create a 360º long-distance view, which makes it possible for the vehicle to become autonomous. This is the case of driverless taxis or home delivery of parcels or food without a delivery person.
Ane Irazusta, who participated in the design of this product at IKERLAN, explains that ‘owing to the experience our technology centre has with XILINX devices, we have been able to successfully develop a product for the automotive sector using the latest processing technology and meeting the technical and deadline requirements of such a competitive industry‘. IKERLAN is one of three state organisations certified by the Silicon Valley company to work with its technology.
The new hardware developed by IKERLAN and IDNEO has been designed in compliance with strict standards and requirements of the automotive industry, ‘a very strict industry due to the implications a system malfunction can have on people’s safety‘. IKERLAN has specialised knowledge and equipment to meet the regulatory requirements of the automotive industry regarding high-performance hardware design, taking into account aspects such as Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and electrical or functional safety from the design phase.
IKERLAN has been working on XILINX platforms for over fifteen years and has evolved technologically by keeping in sync with the latest devices marketed by the American company. IKERLAN has designed products for all its ranges: ‘The experience acquired project after project, across different sectors, allows us to successfully operate with the latest devices on the market‘, adds Leire Rubio, one of the few XILINX-certified engineers in Spain.
This ability to work with multiple technologies, combined with IKERLAN‘s experience in very demanding industries, has allowed the centre to collaborate with companies with a high and diverse technological challenge, such as IDNEO. ‘Functional safety has always been the hallmark of the automotive industry, and it is essential to be able to adapt this premise to the revolutionary world of self-driving vehicles,‘ says Alberto Robles, Director of the Mobility Business Unit at IDNEO. IDNEO is known for its best-in-class solutions in ADAS and autonomous driving due to its development capabilities and tools in the field of Vision. The collaboration between the two companies has allowed them to jointly address new and innovative applications for autonomous driving.
About IKERLAN
IKERLAN, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance – BRTA, is a leading centre in technology transfer as well as in providing competitive value to companies, due, among other aspects, to the specialisation of its researchers. It proposes comprehensive solutions combining different technological domains across three main areas: Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (EICT), Energy and Mechatronics. In 2017, IKERLAN was accredited by AENOR for its integrated management system (UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015 and UNE 166002:2014), thus recognising the centre’s excellence in RDI. It currently employs around 350 people.
About IDNEO
Idneo supports clients in transforming their businesses by integrating innovative and customised technological solutions. Idneo Technologies is a comprehensive technology services company specialised in the design, development, certification and manufacture of added-value technology products or services. Our highly qualified and client-oriented team of over 450 professionals has extensive experience in our target markets, helping us to establish ourselves as a leading engineering and manufacturing partner in the mobility, medtech and industrial markets, providing international service to multiple companies around the world.
