TIER IV And Driveblocks Collaborate On Mapless Autonomy For Highway Trucking

In a significant development for the autonomous driving sector, TIER IV has announced the integration of the Mapless Autonomy Platform from driveblocks, a German start-up, into its autonomous driving (AD) software. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in advancing AD technologies, leveraging the core functionalities of the open-source software Autoware, along with innovative features developed through partnerships.

The upcoming Proof of Concept (PoC) tests will showcase the integration's effectiveness, particularly in enhancing highway trucking solutions. Driveblocks' Mapless Autonomy Platform enables AD platforms to navigate using perception rather than relying on high-definition (HD) maps. This approach has already proven its worth in navigating Europe's challenging routes, such as the Brenner Pass.

Recent PoC tests conducted on a multi-lane test track in Japan have demonstrated the synergy between TIER IV and driveblocks' technologies, especially for highway trucking scenarios. These tests achieved reliable perception and accurate road corridor modeling at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour (kph), under various conditions including standard highway scenarios and GNSS-denied environments like tunnels.

TIER IV is committed to further developing robust object detection capabilities. This focus aims to enable autonomous trucks to safely navigate highways, recognizing and responding to complex scenarios such as merging vehicles and debris on the road.

TIER IV stands at the forefront of autonomous driving technology with its pioneering open-source software, Autoware. As a founding member of The Autoware Foundation, TIER IV is dedicated to the development of safe and efficient AD technology. Through collaboration with global partners, TIER IV is accelerating the deployment of autonomous vehicles to benefit society.

Established in December 2021 in Garching near Munich, driveblocks specializes in modular software platforms for automated and autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle sector. The company's core technology leverages Transformer Neural Networks and sensor fusion to create an environmental model based on sensor data. Driveblocks' innovative approach eliminates the need for pre-mapping and constant map updates, offering a cost-effective solution for vehicle automation across various applications.

This collaboration between TIER IV and driveblocks represents a leap forward in the deployment of autonomous driving technologies for highway trucking. By combining their strengths, both companies are set to enhance the safety and efficiency of autonomous trucks, contributing significantly to the evolution of intelligent transportation systems.