AUTONOMOUS PERCEPTION SYSTEM

Challenge

An automotive client required high-accuracy sensor integration for their autonomous vehicle platform. The perception system comprised:

• 4 LiDAR units for 360° environmental scanning
• 12 ultrasonic sensors for proximity detection
• 2 high-resolution cameras for visual perception
• 1 IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for orientation
• 1 GNSS unit for global positioning

Critical Requirements:

• Centimeter-level spatial alignment across all sensors
• Time-synchronized data streams for sensor fusion
• Reliable perception and localization in complex environments
• Full integration into existing ROS2-based perception pipeline

The client's internal team lacked the bandwidth to handle multi-sensor synchronization and validation at this scale within their tight project timeline.

Solution

Helpforce engineers led the comprehensive integration and calibration of the entire perception stack:

Precision Calibration:

• Achieved centimeter-level spatial alignment across all sensor modalities
• Calibrated overlapping LiDAR fields-of-view for complete 360° coverage
• Validated sensor positioning against physical and virtual reference points

Sensor Fusion Implementation:

• Integrated IMU-GNSS fusion to minimize drift and sensor noise
• Implemented time-stamp synchronization across all data streams
• Developed unified sensor framework for real-time perception

System Integration:

• Seamless connection to client's ROS2-based perception pipeline
• Ensured compatibility with existing software architecture
• Optimized data flow for real-time processing requirements

Documentation & Knowledge Transfer:

• Delivered comprehensive system validation reports
• Created calibration workflows for future sensor updates
• Provided technical training to client's engineering team

Project Management:

• Coordinated cross-functional teams (mechanical, electrical, software)
• Managed dependencies and milestone delivery
• Maintained clear communication with all stakeholders

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