rFpro, a UK-based tech company, has launched the world’s first commercially available platform aimed at developing autonomous vehicles with the help of a virtual environment.
Originally, this technology was developed for F1 teams, although it has since been adopted by some of the world’s largest automakers, helping them accurately replicate the behavior of a car without setting foot outside. Now, autonomous cars will also benefit from it.
The key to rFpro’s platform is a high level of accuracy, enabling for various sensors used by autonomous vehicles to react naturally to diverse situations. Furthermore, rFpro has created a library of real roads using precise scanning technology, allowing users to simulate various environments such as traffic, pedestrians, weather and so on.
“The autonomous vehicle market is expected to be worth up to $10Tn, but debate is rising about whether these vehicles should be allowed on our roads, if not, how do we develop them?” stated rFpro technical director, Chris Hoyle.
“An evolution of our platform enables vehicle manufacturers to thoroughly test their technology and be absolutely confident in their systems before validation on real roads. The key to autonomous vehicle adoption is the development of the vehicle’s ‘brain’, its ability to make appropriate decisions, that’s what our technology helps with.”
Currently, this technology has been adopted by two (unnamed) major vehicle manufacturers and three autonomous car developers.
