Ikerlan and Idneo develop long-distance 360° vision hardware

The mobility of the future will be sustainable, safe and connected. And the automotive sector must solve the technological challenges associated with this new model as a matter of urgency. In this context, the Ikerlan technology centre and the Spanish multi-sector technology company Idneo have taken an important step towards the new mobility model by jointly developing hardware that will enable vehicles to perform autonomous driving functions safely. The solution developed is based on the latest XILINX processor (MPSoC), a technology that Ikerlan knows in detail and has a team of experienced engineers recognised by the American multinational on its staff.

The new platform is powered by images captured by cameras distributed throughout the car, as well as data from different sensors that provide information about other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and road conditions. The software sends this information in real time through the vehicle's internal network, enabling immediate and safe decision-making. This large volume of information allows the system to achieve a 360° view from a great distance, enabling the vehicle to perform autonomous driving functions. This is the case of driverless taxis or the delivery of parcels or food at home without the need for a delivery driver.

Ane Irazusta, participant in the design of this product at Ikerlan explains that "thanks to the experience of our technology centre with XILINX devices, we have been able to successfully develop a product with the latest processing technology for the automotive sector and meeting the technical and deadline requirements of such a competitive industry". Ikerlan is one of three organizations in Spain accredited by the Silicon Valley company to work with its technology.

The new hardware developed by Ikerlan and Idneo has been designed in compliance with the rigorous standards and requirements of the automotive sector, "a very strict sector due to the implications that a system malfunction can have on people's safety". Ikerlan has specialised knowledge and equipment to comply with the regulatory requirements of the automotive sector in relation to the design of high-performance hardware, taking into account aspects such as Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), electrical or functional safety from the design phase.

For more than fifteen years, Ikerlan has been working on XILINX platforms and has evolved technologically by synchronising with the latest devices marketed by the American company.

Ikerlan has designed products for all its ranges: "this experience, accumulated project after project in different sectors, allows us to successfully work with the latest devices on the market", adds Leire Rubio, one of the few female engineers certified by XILINX in Spain.

These multi-technological capabilities, combined with Ikerlan's experience in very demanding sectors, allow the centre to collaborate with companies with a high and diverse technological challenge such as Idneo. "Functional safety has always been the hallmark of the automotive industry and it is essential to be able to adapt this premise to the revolutionary world of autonomous vehicles," says Alberto Robles, director of the Mobility Business Unit at Idneo. Idneo stands out for the best solutions in ADAS and autonomous driving due to its development capabilities and tools in the area of Vision. The collaboration between the two companies has allowed them to jointly address new and innovative applications for autonomous driving.