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US-based Velodyne LiDAR has announced that French driverless technology specialist NAVYA will use the 16-channel real-time lidar sensors in the first deployment of fully autonomous production vehicles.

The 3D VLP-16 lidar Pucks of Velodyne LiDAR will be implemented as part of a two-year, two-vehicle test with public transport company PostBus Switzerland.

Velodyne LiDAR European sales director Erich Smidt said: "The NAVYA ARMA shuttles, and their deployment by PostBus, represent a major milestone for autonomous transportation.

"What is most remarkable, is how these various technologies have matured and converged in a solution that is safe, convenient and available to all.

"Velodyne LiDAR is key to the 3D vision system for the ARMA electric and autonomous shuttles."

"Our lidar is the very essence of proven technology, having collectively logged millions of hours of use time in virtually every type of terrain and weather condition."

The two autonomous, driverless and electric PostBus ARMA shuttles will undergo two-phase testing.

After the initial testing on a private and closed site, the shuttles will carry passengers in autonomous mode on public roads of Sion, Switzerland.

The ARMA will be able to accommodate up to 15 people and travel at a maximum speed of 15mph.

The trials will enable the transport specialists to observe how the shuttles move through public areas in order to offer an additional and modern form of transportation on the routes.

This helps commuters travel from one to another in Sion, particularly facilitating the people living in areas not currently served by the public system.

In addition to lidar, the ARMA’s steering systems simultaneously make use of a multitude of technologies such as GPS RTK navigation devices, stereovision cameras, inertial navigation systems and odometry.

The sensors in the shuttle help it to position itself within a few centimetres of its desired target and can identify both fixed and moving obstacles on the road in broad daylight or at night time.

NAVYA president and CEO Christophe Sapet said: "The system has been tested and now will be operational for the public.

"Velodyne LiDAR is key to the 3D vision system for the ARMA electric and autonomous shuttles."

Image: Velodyne 3D VLP-16 lidar Pucks to be used in NAVYA ARMA shuttle. Photo: courtesy of prweb / Velodyne.