Tech Companies Collaborate On Autonomous Car

Seven leading Israeli tech companies have demonstrated their advanced and autonomous vehicle technologies on test vehicles in Tel Aviv.

Thermal cameras, laser imaging and detection systems (LiDAR) and autonomous perception systems were all tested in a variety of driving scenarios.

It was the culmination of a three-year collaboration under the Avatar (Autonomous Vehicle Advanced Technologies for Situational Awareness) Consortium, which formulated, implemented, and supervised their research and development programs. 

Members of the consortium also included researchers from Israeli universities.

The consortium was financed by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Smart Transportation Department of the Ministry of Transportation.

Aviv Zeevi, VP of the Technological Infrastructure Division at the Israel Innovation Authority, said: “The Israel Innovation Authority is deeply committed to empowering and integrating key players in academia and the industry in the ecosystem that deals with sensors, connection and visualization of data in autonomous vehicles, enabling them to maximize their technological and economic value.

“This is exactly the purpose of this consortium, and we await the groundbreaking industry-related news that we are confident we will hear from them.”

Daniella Gera Margaliot, Deputy Managing Director, Smart Mobility Initiative, said: “After three years of activity, the Avatar Consortium demonstrated a variety of autonomous vehicle decision-making technologies.

“The particularly successful collaboration between seven companies and seven leading research establishments in Israel is another layer in the Ministry of Transportation’s practice of promoting advanced technological solutions with a view to improving the safety of road users and streamlining traffic.”

Companies that participated in the consortium included Cognata, a leading global supplier of large-scale vehicle simulation for the ADAS and automotive markets; Elbit Systems, a world leader in the development of advanced autonomous tools for land, sea and air use, and developer of complex, computer-vision-based systems; and Opsys, which produces a unique, advanced LiDAR without moving parts for the automotive industry.