AUTONOMY SENSORS
Sandvik ' s AutoMine ® Concept vehicle , an autonomous loader for underground mines , is using Ouster digital LiDAR
a ‘ fourth dimension ’ to the measurement provided by the sensor .”
“ The market for autonomous and semiautonomous systems in an industrial context is predicted to grow at above-average rates . There is particular demand for durable , small , and cost-efficient sensor solutions . The new solidstate technology from Ibeo works entirely without moving parts and features a compact form factor , thereby offering decisive advantages for mobile applications .”
Now , Ibeo and SICK have announced a technology partnership to develop a 3D LiDAR sensor , based on this innovative solid-state technology from the automotive sector , for industrial applications . In this partnership , Ibeo is providing its ibeoNEXT measurement core . SICK will develop the system design and the application software for a new industrial LiDAR sensor in order to solve industrial applications according to customer requirements .
“ Autonomous systems will bring increasing changes to the industrial sector in the coming years . Even outside industrial facilities there is much potential in mobile applications for the implementation of intelligent sensor solutions . The partnership with Ibeo will enable us to use a robust and highly-developed technology from the automotive segment for future-oriented industrial applications ,” said Dr Robert Bauer , chairman of the executive board of SICK AG . “ Together with SICK , we are making an automotive LiDAR sensor available on a large scale for industrial applications for the first time . In the industrial sector , this is one of the largest LiDAR cooperation agreements ever concluded . Customers will profit from ibeoNEXT ’ s close-toproduction development based on automotive standards and the high quality standards that result from this , as well as the scale effects associated with it ,” added Dr Ulrich Lages , CEO of Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH . “ We have had a long and close working relationship with SICK . Its extensive and in-depth application knowledge in the area of industrial applications and markets makes SICK an ideal partner to enable us to serve industrial markets .”
The ibeoNEXT measurement core was developed for large-scale automotive production and is based on an entirely new photon laser measurement technology for measuring the spatial distance of objects in medium to long ranges . Even in adverse environmental conditions , such as precipitation , or in surroundings with high levels of shock or vibration , the ibeoNEXT measurement core reliably determines over 10,000 distance values from each 3D measurement . It also generates a black-and-white image similar to the picture of a camera , which enables an even more reliable ‘ four-dimensional ’ detection of the surroundings .
“ We decided to use Ibeo ’ s solid-state LiDAR technology because it is currently one of the most advanced 3D LiDAR measurement systems available in the world . It is an addition to our technology portfolio and enables us to offer , on top of our existing industrial applications , new , easy-to-integrate solutions in the field of autonomous and semi-autonomous driving for use in the industrial sector ,” said Dr Kay Fürstenberg , Senior Vice President for Research and Development at SICK AG . Selected customers of SICK will have the opportunity to test this new 3D solid-state LiDAR sensor in 2021 .
Ouster ups the game in digital LiDAR
San Francisco-based LiDAR specialist Ouster told IM : “ 2D LiDAR and legacy sensor technology has been used in mining equipment for decades , helping to improve driver safety with features like collision avoidance . We are now seeing a shift towards more intelligent systems with advanced sensor hardware , including Ouster 3D digital LiDAR , that can support autonomous mining vehicles . However , not all LiDAR solutions are suitable for mining . Most are built specifically for forward-looking automotive applications while others have been on the market for 5 to 10 years with limited improvements in performance .”
Ouster says its sensors share a single digital architecture and are built to a super set of performance requirements that can cover many of the edge cases a mining vehicle might encounter , such as extremely high or low temperatures , frequent shock and vibration , humidity , rain , and dust . Furthermore , Ouster is
constantly improving sensor features and capabilities through over-the-air updates .
“ Ouster sensors ' strong reliability is what enables us to offer the LiDAR industry ' s only two-year warranty and makes its sensors a great fit for mining applications .”
The company is working with a number of mining customers operating equipment in unique environments . As an example , Sandvik is developing the AutoMine ® Concept vehicle , an autonomous loader for underground mines , using Ouster digital LiDAR . Conditions underground include poor lighting , narrow paths , and hot temperatures which make autonomous operations challenging . Ouster is also working with Chinese surface mining fleet automation technology majors like TAGE and WAYTOUS whose systems are operating autonomous haul trucks in open-pit mines in Inner Mongolia where temperatures can reach far below freezing , plus where the environment is either extremely dusty or muddy , and roads are often unpaved and bumpy .
“ For these reasons , Ouster LiDAR sensors have a cold start function and are certified to operate in an environment of -40 ° C , similar to automotive requirements . Moreover , they pass strict shock and vibration tests before leaving the factory so that the end-user can have confidence the sensors will provide accurate LiDAR data . Furthermore , they are designed to IP68 / 69K ingress protection standards to ensure they can perform reliably across unpredictable weather conditions and extended outdoor use through rain , snow , hail , dust , and fog .” Ouster adds that its 3D digital LiDAR with reflectivity data combined with simultaneous localisation and mapping , and perception algorithms , can offer advanced capabilities that 2D legacy sensor technology simply cannot support .
Ouster agreed that sensor fusion is an important part of the technology stack . “ LiDAR is often working in conjunction with GPS , camera , and radar technology which all feed real-time data to powerful computing platforms . Companies like Danfoss Power Solutions provide seamless digital LiDAR integration and sensor fusion with their autonomous controller and software platform . Certain customers develop their systems on top of autonomous vehicle platforms , and others build custom control systems . Each end-customer has its own
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2021