DRIVEN BY SOUND has developed a low-cost redundant sensing and navigation module based on Calyo’s 3D ultrasound technology, providing a safety-critical backup capable of guiding vehicles to a safe state when primary perception systems are impaired by adverse conditions or faults.
Key Facts
- Delivered Cranfield University’s first fully automated passenger vehicle platform.
- Enhanced 3D reconstruction and object detection performance through the integration of Calyo’s 3D ultrasound sensing technology.
- Demonstrated autonomous valet parking using both LiDAR-based (baseline) and ultrasound-based perception, validating a redundant sensing approach capable of reliable operation in adverse environmental conditions (e.g. rain, fog, dust, glare).
Why the research was commissioned
DRIVEN BY SOUND is a collaborative research project led by Calyo, in partnership with Benedex Robotics and Cranfield University, to improve the safety and reliability of autonomous and highly automated vehicles. The project is developing a functional safety sensing platform based on Calyo’s innovative 3D ultrasound technology, which can continue to perceive and map the environment in conditions where conventional cameras, LiDAR and radar systems may be degraded, such as heavy rain, fog, dust or glare. By providing a redundant perception layer, the system enables vehicles to execute minimum risk manoeuvres and stop safely during faults or extreme conditions, supporting safer deployment of future autonomous mobility solutions across road and industrial vehicle applications.
