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TRI-AD, Maxar Technologies and NTT DATA Collaborate To Build High-Definition Maps for Autonomous Vehicles from SpaceWESTMINSTER, CO, April 24, 2019 /CNW/ - Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc. (TRI-AD), Toyota's automated driving software development company, Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a global technology innovator powering the new space economy, and NTT DATA Corporation, a leading IT services provider, today announced they will collaborate on a proof of concept to build automated high-definition (HD) maps for autonomous vehicles using high-resolution satellite imagery. This is an important move toward advancing TRI-AD's open software platform concept known as Automated Mapping Platform (AMP) and help realize the scalability of autonomous driving. Autonomous vehicles use several real-time sensors to ensure safe driving and these sensors need to be cross-referenced with an HD map for safe operation. According to TRI-AD analysis, currently HD maps cover less than 1% of the global road network1, and there is a need to increase the coverage of urban areas and local roads before autonomous vehicles can become a mainstream mobility technology. An HD map created from accurate satellite imagery allows the driving software to compare multiple data sources and signal the car to take action if needed to stay safe. In this proof of concept, the three companies will work together to process satellite imagery into vehicle-friendly HD maps. Leveraging Maxar's cloud-based Geospatial Big Data platform (GBDX), imagery from Maxar's optical satellite image library will be fed into NTT DATA's specialized algorithms using Artificial Intelligence to extract information that is necessary to generate the detailed road network. Based on the above information, TRI-AD will make HD maps available for delivery from TRI-AD's cloud into Toyota test vehicles. The group is focusing first on creating an automated HD map for a predefined area of the Tokyo metropolitan region, opening up the future possibility of supporting automated mobility on all roads. "Recent advances in electronics and aerospace engineering are leading to higher resolutions and more frequent updates of global imagery from space-based assets," said Mandali Khalesi, Vice President Automated Driving at TRI-AD. "Additionally, machine learning is helping automate the discovery and integration of semantic relationships between road elements within image data. We're excited to collaborate with Maxar and NTT DATA to revolutionize automated driving mobility for all." "High-definition maps are an essential element for the navigation and safety of autonomous vehicles, and Maxar is proud to provide the data and analytics platform that make HD maps possible," said Paul Granito, Maxar's Vice President of Global Sales. "This new, innovative project points to the growing demand of our accurate, high-resolution imagery and advanced geospatial analytics." "We have been fully engaged in the satellite-imaging business for 20 years, providing our AW3D-branded 3D maps on a global short-delivery basis," said Katsuichi Sonoda, Vice President and Head of NTT DATA's Social Infrastructure Solution Sector at NTT DATA. "In this new project, we will use NTT DATA's AI and enhanced image-processing expertise to expand the coverage of high-definition maps on a fast, scalable and cost-effective basis. In the future, we hope to map worldwide road networks from space using our enhanced image-processing expertise." Notes
About TRI-AD About Maxar Technologies About NTT DATA Corporation Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this presentation. As a result, although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with U.S. securities and Canadian regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov, under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this presentation or other specified date and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this presentation as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. Maxar Investor Relations Contact: Maxar Media Contact Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc. NTT DATA Corporation About Products/Services / Makoto Kuribayashi, Sayaka Honma, Yukie Matsuoka View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tri-ad-maxar-technologies-and-ntt-data-collaborate-to-build-high-definition-maps-for-autonomous-vehicles-from-space-300837932.html SOURCE Maxar Technologies Ltd. |