WESTMINSTER, CO, April 24, 2019 /CNW/ - Toyota Research
Institute-Advanced Development, Inc. (TRI-AD), Toyota's automated
driving software development company, Maxar Technologies
(NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a global technology innovator powering the
new space economy, and NTT DATA Corporation, a leading IT services
provider, today announced they will collaborate on a proof of
concept to build automated high-definition (HD) maps for autonomous
vehicles using high-resolution satellite imagery. This is an
important move toward advancing TRI-AD's open software platform
concept known as Automated Mapping Platform (AMP) and help realize
the scalability of autonomous driving.
Autonomous vehicles use several real-time sensors to ensure safe
driving and these sensors need to be cross-referenced with an HD
map for safe operation. According to TRI-AD analysis, currently HD
maps cover less than 1% of the global road network1, and
there is a need to increase the coverage of urban areas and local
roads before autonomous vehicles can become a mainstream mobility
technology. An HD map created from accurate satellite imagery
allows the driving software to compare multiple data sources and
signal the car to take action if needed to stay safe.
In this proof of concept, the three companies will work together
to process satellite imagery into vehicle-friendly HD maps.
Leveraging Maxar's cloud-based Geospatial Big Data platform
(GBDX), imagery from Maxar's optical satellite image
library will be fed into NTT DATA's specialized
algorithms using Artificial Intelligence to extract information
that is necessary to generate the detailed road network. Based
on the above information, TRI-AD will make HD maps available for
delivery from TRI-AD's cloud into Toyota test vehicles. The group
is focusing first on creating an automated HD map for a predefined
area of the Tokyo metropolitan
region, opening up the future possibility of supporting automated
mobility on all roads.
"Recent advances in electronics and aerospace engineering are
leading to higher resolutions and more frequent updates of global
imagery from space-based assets," said Mandali Khalesi, Vice
President Automated Driving at TRI-AD. "Additionally, machine
learning is helping automate the discovery and integration of
semantic relationships between road elements within image data.
We're excited to collaborate with Maxar and NTT DATA to
revolutionize automated driving mobility for all."
"High-definition maps are an essential element for the
navigation and safety of autonomous vehicles, and Maxar is
proud to provide the data and analytics platform that make HD maps
possible," said Paul Granito,
Maxar's Vice President of Global Sales. "This new, innovative
project points to the growing demand of our accurate,
high-resolution imagery and advanced geospatial analytics."
"We have been fully engaged in the satellite-imaging business
for 20 years, providing our AW3D-branded 3D maps on a global
short-delivery basis," said Katsuichi
Sonoda, Vice President and Head of NTT DATA's Social
Infrastructure Solution Sector at NTT DATA. "In this new project,
we will use NTT DATA's AI and enhanced image-processing expertise
to expand the coverage of high-definition maps on a fast, scalable
and cost-effective basis. In the future, we hope to map worldwide
road networks from space using our enhanced image-processing
expertise."
Notes
|
1
|
Assuming that high
definition maps were available for the entire highway road network
for the US, China, Germany and Japan (0.23M km), this represents
less than 1% of the global road network (39.5M km).
|
About TRI-AD
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced
Development, Inc. is focused on the advanced development of
software for automated driving efforts. Its mission is to build the
world's safest automated driving car, as well as strengthening
coordination with TRI's research results and research and advanced
development within the Toyota Group. Activities include developing
automated driving software, leveraging data-handling capabilities
and creating a straight line from research to commercialization.
See more at www.tri-ad.global.
About Maxar Technologies
As a global leader of
advanced space technology solutions, Maxar is at the nexus of the
new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and
delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the
promise of space for commercial and government markets. The
operations of DigitalGlobe, SSL and Radiant Solutions were unified
under the Maxar brand in February; MDA continues to operate as an
independent business unit within the Maxar organization. As a
trusted partner with 5,900 employees in over 30 global locations,
Maxar provides vertically integrated capabilities and expertise
including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and
analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most
complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. Every day,
billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information
and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar
trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange as
MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.
About NTT DATA Corporation
NTT DATA is a leading IT
services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in
Tokyo, with business operations in
over 50 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment,
combining global reach with local intimacy to provide premier
professional services varying from consulting and systems
development to outsourcing. For more information, please visit
www.nttdata.com, and www.aw3d.jp/en/ (AW3D).
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"may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "plan", "potential",
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forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations,
projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, as well as other statements referring to or
including forward-looking information included in this
presentation.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially
from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this
presentation. As a result, although management of the Company
believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such
forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance
should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the
Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
The risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk
factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business
included in the Company's continuous disclosure
materials filed from time to time with U.S. securities and Canadian
regulatory authorities, which are available online under the
Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, under the Company's
SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or on the Company's
website at www.maxar.com.
The forward-looking statements contained in this release are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary
statements. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data
available as of the date of this presentation or other specified
date and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements in this presentation as a result of new information or
future events, except as may be required under applicable
securities legislation.
Maxar Investor Relations Contact:
Jason Gursky
Maxar VP Investor Relations
1-303-684-2207
jason.gursky@maxar.com
Maxar Media Contact
Kristin
Carringer
Maxar Media Relations
1-303-684-4352
kristin.carringer@digitalglobe.com
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc.
Public Relations / Aya Usui,
Kazuya Kazama
e-mail：pr@tri-ad.global
NTT DATA Corporation
Public Relations / Reina Koizumi
e-mail：koizumir@nttdata.co.jp
About Products/Services / Makoto
Kuribayashi, Sayaka Honma,
Yukie Matsuoka
e-mail：aw3d@kits.nttdata.co.jp
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