HD maps for AVs
Automation - it's so much clearer in HD High-deďŹ nition mapping is essential for the transition from driving automation to autonomous driving, believes TomTom. By Megan Lampinen
F
rom the traditional road atlas to the Waze app, maps today are an essential part of a trip. Specifically, they help drivers plan - or simply follow - a visual route from A to B. But take away that driver from the equation, as autonomous technology promises to do, and maps suddenly need to play a different role. It is a role contingent upon smart and connected technology, and without it, autonomous vehicles will never find their way to market. TomTom specialises in maps and increasingly in maps for automated vehicles, but it knows that maps alone won't build an autonomous fleet. "We see three core building blocks to a driverless future," said Tomaso Grossi, Senior Product Marketer at TomTom Automotive. To start with, the vehicle needs sensing capability, consisting of what it can see through the sensors, such as cameras, radar and LiDAR. A second pillar is what Grossi refers to as 'driving policy', the instructions to the vehicle regarding how to behave in
www.automotivemegatrends.com
different driving situations. The third is mapping, but the maps are far from average.
"With automated driving, the map has a different function. You are no longer looking for a map to get you from A to B; it's more of a map that helps you with localisation, perception and path planning," he told Megatrends.
Localisation
Individuals tend to take it for granted that they know exactly where they are, i.e. in the middle of the road, in a specific position within the lane, at roughly a specific latitude and longitude. An autonomous vehicle does not necessarily know where it is located on the road. GPS positioning, with an accuracy level of about 5 metres, won't cut it for autonomous driving. "A high definition map allows you to enable accurate positioning at decimetre level, whereby the vehicle can see where it is in the lane," said Grossi.
55