On December 28, 2017, at the Chese Technology Research and Development Center in the Hongqiao World Center, Shanghai, Chest Technology and Baidu Apollo jointly launched Autopilot Developer Suite based on the Apollo platform, Pandora.
What is Pandora?
Pandora is a suite of autopilot developers that combines laser radar, look-around camera modules, multisensor fusion and perceptual recognition algorithms.
Pandora solve any problem
In the big wave of autopilot, the vast majority of companies are targeting "system solution providers." Target-based learning, path planning, and decision-making are places where these algorithmic companies compete. "However, Before being able to make a big difference, there's a stumbling block to dazzle the vast majority of software-based algorithms companies - a perfectly tuned perception system.
From the selection and calibration of the sensor system to the integration of the camera and the laser radar, and to the ability to output the most basic target object tracking, this seemingly simple and basic work generally takes a small team at least 6-8 months Of the precious research and development time, can barely do not drag the leg ', and this is just a process of inventing the wheel again.An unmanned vehicle's perception system does not guarantee the success of the entire system, and the perception system is flawed enough to use it Of software engineers continue to fall into distress Pandora is to solve such a pain point of research and development.
Pandora how to achieve
Pandora's core technology stems from its rich experience in the laser radar industry and its strong research and development iteration capability, combined with the mature open source algorithm system of Apollo's self-driving open platform.The core philosophy of Pandora is to integrate the aforementioned perception system software layer There are two obvious benefits to doing this, one of which is to dramatically reduce the time it takes software engineers to get started, allowing them to quickly focus on what's really important for autonomous driving Algorithm development; on the other hand, 'dimensionality reduction' refers to the hardware firmware aspect at a large number of software layers and allows some functions that can not be implemented at the software level (eg pixel-level synchronization of lidar and camera at the firmware level).
Autopilot Developer's Kit Pandora
A Pandora Suite has the following benefits to address the perceived challenges in the development of autonomous driving:
1, 4 look around the camera 360-degree field of vision, and the perfect combination of laser radar. A forward looking color camera to enhance the ability to look far
2, laser radar and multiple cameras integrated mechanical design, installation is extremely simple
3, 5 camera and laser radar coordinate mapping calibration problems. Pandora automatically help users calibrate the camera and lidar location mapping, and in the use of the process without repeated calibration
4, laser radar and camera synchronization trigger, multi-sensor data pixel-level alignment
5, the sensor's extremely low delay signal transmission
6, the target tracking and identification
Pandora's research and development process
Starting from the first half of 2017, Chest Technology and Baidu Apollo will start their deep cooperation on Pandora. Chesece is mainly responsible for the design and manufacture of hardware products. Baidu Apollo is responsible for the overall system definition and algorithm adaptation, and based on Apollo in the automatic driving industry Rich experience and ecological developer pain points, Pandora made very stringent requirements.Pandora prototype after three major iterations and tests, and finally to achieve the initial design of both engineers jointly developed the design specifications and scheduled release.
Pandora installed in Baidu Apollo unmanned test car
At the press conference, Che Yifai CEO, Yifan Li, said: 'Chesex has been devoting itself to developing the world's leading laser sensors since its establishment in 2012. Our Pandar 40 is the first laser to achieve 200-meter distance measurement (20% reflectivity) Released within six months of customers around the world, including California, there are 44 unmanned vehicle road test and license companies in 14. At the same time, we just released solid-state radar PandarGT is even more with its original solid-state imaging technology to achieve a long-term dynamic Zoom laser radar imaging, and significantly reduce costs, set a record in the industry.
Chess Science and Technology CEO Li Yifan
Wang Liang, director of research and development at Baidu Apollo, said: "As the chief architect of the technology direction of Apollo platform perception, we fully understand the technical pain points in the development and system setup of multisensor fusion algorithms, including the high cost of multisensor data symbology Sensor fusion sensing algorithm relies on sensor attitude calibration and data synchronization and other issues.This S & S and Apollo platform jointly launched Pandora products to achieve the underlying laser radar and camera data synchronization and integration of the developer from the cumbersome Repeated work liberated, more focused on the algorithm iteration itself, to speed up the iterative speed of autopilot technology.
Apollo director of research and development architect Wang Liang
Baidu Auto Driving Department (ADU) said: 'The Porsar 40 has a leading position in the country. Baidu is deeply interested in its performance and potential after long-term inspection and testing of its own.
Chess Science and Technology 40-line mechanical laser radar Pandar40
The Pandar GT is a new solid-state lidar product from the company that has introduced ZOLO (Zoomable Light Oscillator) technology. It uses new materials and processing technology. Its unique optical imaging system delivers the entire laser without sacrificing performance Reducing the total number of radar components from less than 1000 to fewer than 100 significantly reduces costs and increases system reliability.
Chess Science and Technology solid-state radar Pandar GT
Pandora is a deeply collaborative product developed by Grassroots and Apollo from Baidu to help more users and partners start off faster on the Apollo platform and take full advantage of the platform's strengths and resources to drive the entire driverless process.
Not only that, Apollo Alliance members and partners are given priority access to Pandora's technical support and product information, with the best lead time and the best purchase price.
With its commitment to the development and innovation of laser radar and its contribution to the development of an unmanned future, the Chevron Apollo Open Platform, known as Android Auto, has now become the most solid and comprehensive autonomous driving ecology. Cheery Technology and Baidu Apollo will work together to promote unmanned cooperation in the upstream and downstream industry chain to speed up the process of unmanned landing.