Iteris and Valeo Team Up to Bring Advanced Automotive Vision Systems to Cars
IVsource.net
20 August 2001

Iteris Inc. and Valeo have announced a strategic partnership for technical and commercial development of advanced automotive vision systems for the auto market. 

Iteris Inc. and Valeo have announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at the successful technical and commercial development of advanced automotive vision systems for the car market.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two firms will jointly develop Iteris' advanced video-based image processing system called AutoVue, and integrate it into Valeo's comprehensive range of automotive sensor and electronic systems.

While it appears that Valeo will handle all aspects of manufacturing, their marketing and engineering expertise will also support the partnership -- from Bietigheim, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Michigan, where Valeo's Switches and Detection Systems Branch research and development centers are located.  The agreement spells out the partners' balance of revenue from technology fees and manufacturing proceeds.

Detecting Obstacles with Vision

AutoVue tracks visible road lane markings ahead of the host vehicle and warns the driver in case of an unintentional lane departure.  Future generations of AutoVue are expected to be able to detect obstacles and road signs, as well as changes in weather and road conditions -- which could reduce driver tasking by automating and enhancing functions such as lighting and wiper activation.  If interfaces to other advanced features such as Brake-by-Wire or Steer-by-Wire are developed successfully, these future generation systems have the potential to beneficially impact road safety in a real way.

"We feel that Valeo is the ideal partner for Iteris to work with and that this relationship leverages the strengths of both companies," said Francis Memole, Iteris' vice president of vehicle sensors.  "The combination of Valeo's global strength in automotive electronics, especially in Europe, coupled with our leading-edge vision technology will allow Iteris to succeed on a global scale," he added.

"Iteris' video-based in-vehicle sensor technology combined with our advanced automotive electronics and sensor technologies represent an important part of our strategy to provide innovative detection systems for the automotive market.  This partnership moves Valeo well ahead on the roadmap to offer complete and intelligent vision all around the vehicle," said Martin Haub, Valeo senior vice president for research & development and product marketing.

Haub added that "the integration of this new technology perfectly demonstrates how synergies can increase functionality whilst at the same time enhancing the performance of our existing systems.  We are very excited about the promising and numerous opportunities this collaboration will offer."

Small enough to fit inside a rearview mirror case, AutoVue is a compact and lightweight image processor device that will be located inside the front windscreen of a car.  The system uses a highly sensitive, computerized camera and a combination of sophisticated lane recognition algorithms and a proprietary image recognition package (software and hardware) to track lane markings in the road.

Seeing & Being Seen

Valeo plans to make Iteris' AutoVue technology an integral part of its "Seeing and Being Seen" Domain, which uses ultrasonic, infrared, and radar sensors, in addition to vision-based systems, for 360-degree surveillance of the vehicle's environment.  Those advanced driver support features and the resulting sensor fusion capability surely will be a prerequisite for all future Collision Warning and Avoidance systems.

Integrated video-based sensing brings a range of performance-enhancing options that will strengthen and support Valeo's existing vehicle systems.  Both companies envision that the AutoVue system, when integrated into Valeo's complete range of environmental detection systems, will improve vehicle functions such as lighting and windscreen cleaning management, rain and dirt sensing, and obstacle detection, through this unique blend of technology.

Valeo is an independent industrial group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks and ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers.

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