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Vehicle Conversions

Experience

Our engineers have experience converting a broad range of vehicles to autonomy or tele-operation. We have converted vehicles ranging from 1978 International Harvesters with carbureted engines and no ABS, through to present day vehicles with extensive on board electronics. We use custom actuators designed to our own rugged specification, and built to take the rigors of desert racing across the Mojave desert in the DARPA Grand Challenge. Conversions can include throttle, brake and steering only, or can be extended to include transmission and any other vehicle functions.

Safety

Braking and throttle actuators benefit from our fail safe design. In the absence of electrical power or an enable signal, mechanical springs return the throttle to the closed position and apply the vehicle brakes. The braking system is also designed so that even when in autonomous or tele-operated mode, a driver (if present) is still able to apply the brakes via the brake pedal, independent of any automated system. The security offered by this design cannot be over-emphasized. By providing an enable/disable process which is engineered into the hardware and independent of the control computers, we provide assurance that an onboard safety driver, or a wireless enable/disable system, will be able to stop the vehicle whatever the state of the higher level control computers. Because of this and other safety features built into our converted vehicles, we meet all DARPA’s safety requirements for vehicles entering the Urban Grand Challenge.

Rapid Changeover to Autonomous Driving

Another feature of our conversions is the ability to rapidly switch from automated operation to regular human driving. This is a convenient feature allowing the vehicle to be driven normally to get to automated missions, and then rapidly converted to automated operation. We easily meet the 5 minute conversion time target recently set by DARPA for Urban Challenge vehicles.

Customization

Customization options on top of the basic vehicle are extensive. For example, we can provide an entire low level control system which implements closed loop feedback control of all the actuators. Your higher level control system then interfaces to this control system over the ethernet, and controls the vehicle through high level software commands to set speed, steering angle etc.

We can also install GPS and Inertial navigation systems, e-stop radios, heavy duty 12v DC power distribution systems, 110v power distribution systems, and shock mounted racks for electronics and sensors.

For the ultimate in turnkey vehicles, we can also install one of our high bandwidth lidar sensors, coupled to a complete obstacle detection and avoidance software package.

Next Steps

If you would like to learn more, click here to download a brochure in pdf format, or contact us to discuss your needs.

Our 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge Vehicle, one of only 40 out of 200 entrants selected for the Semi-Finals.