Australian CAV readiness: Integrating a data probe vehicle

This project seeks to provide access to the ARRB Future Transport Systems expert team to the integrated fitment of software and hardware of a new automated probe vehicle up to Level 4.

This will enable a step change in the capacity to understand, explore, and identify research opportunities for connected and automated vehicle (CAV) deployment in Australia.

Participants

• • • ARRB

Project background

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) are the subject of much interest worldwide in terms of the possibilities for safe, connected, and efficient mobility and freight movements.

There are many areas of opportunity for CAVs in Australia and only limited progress to build the required knowledge base and expertise to develop acceptance protocols and criteria, use cases and to drive implementation. ARRB initiated the Australia and New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) in 2014, and since then we have led the coordination of efforts, international interactions and knowledge development to support CAVs in Australia.

This project seeks to build off ARRB initiatives in this area and to provide access to the ARRB Future Transport Systems (FTS) expert team to the integrated fitment of software and hardware of a new automated probe vehicle up to Level 4 (SAE-J3016), to enable a step change in our capacity to understand, explore and identify research opportunities for CAV deployment in Australia.

The first phase (PHASE 1) of this initiative, as described in this project agreement, involves:

• the research and setup of the necessary software and hardware requirements to integrate into a probe vehicle
• integration with equipment stack, perception software and integrate hardware as a test bed for Australia
• understanding integration issues and harmonisation of software and hardware
• research of appropriate vehicle for integration

Project objectives

The objective of this project is to establish a new automated probe vehicle as a test bed to enable applied research by the ARRB FTS team into deployment of CAVs in Australia.

Establishment of the ARRB automated probe vehicle would enable new initiatives seeking to understand the gaps in data and interactions of automated vehicles with infrastructure in an Australian context.

The probe vehicle would enable a holistic approach to data generation and provide an understanding of the gaps nationally. (Current application from other various trials are not holistic as it focuses on certain individual aspect only, such as communication (e.g. Telstra Lexus) or perception (e.g. QUT vehicle).

Some of the current gaps are:

• certification
• verification
• auditable reports
• National Independent Assessment
• compliance
• in-service and software update

The ARRB automated probe vehicle would be established as a standardised probe (automated) vehicle (up to Level 4) which would enable a benchmark for comparison with emerging CAV technologies going forward, integrating and the testing/benchmarking of technology (e.g. is the software tested capable of detecting glass bridges?)

PROJECT WRAP-UP

The main objective of this project was to deliver a prototype automated vehicle that would serve as a test bed for the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO)’s deployment of CAVs in Australia. A report from the project is available for download below.

Known within NTRO as the Intelligent Survey Collection for Automation (iSCAN), this project had three phases:

1. An in-depth technical review of Cooperative Automated Vehicle (CAV) research companies, existing probe vehicles, and equipment suitable for the iSCAN project.
2. Provision of a revised list of sensors fitted into the vehicle and sensor fitments and calibration.
3. Insight into the selected and implemented hardware and software integration through collection and post-processing of recorded on-road data in Victoria.

Objectives

The objective of this project was to establish a new automated probe vehicle as a test bed to enable applied research by the NTRO team into deployment of CAVs in Australia.

Establishment of the NTRO automated probe vehicle would enable new initiatives seeking to understand the gaps in data and interactions of automated vehicles with infrastructure in an Australian context.

The probe vehicle would enable a holistic approach to data generation and provide an understanding of the gaps nationally.

The probe vehicle and on-road testing

NTRO’s iSCAN vehicle of choice for the project was a Volvo XC90 SUV. Sensor fitment for this body of work was a driver monitoring system, LiDAR, GNSS and IMU sensor, along with AI stereo cameras to provide video streaming from the environment and generate a depth map.

On-road testing was conducted in and around Geelong, on both motorways and urban streets.
Details regarding sensors, cameras, and software are available in the report (see below).

Conclusion and future opportunities

An outcome of the iSCAN project was the provision of a testbed for NTRO’s staff to learn about innovative ways of surveying infrastructure. iSCAN is an opportunity to learn how sensors’ integration can be done, to learn about exchanges between the sensors, including the necessary algorithms to perform the software integration in perception and localisation systems.

The near future of the iSCAN platform is to be used as an alternative way of surveying the road infrastructure, understanding the interaction between road users, and assessing technological intervention in transportation. Some of the potential applications are the following:

• Digital twin, road infrastructure assets, and high-definition map: An extension application of the localisation and perception system with iSCAN is to generate maps from the environment and classify the road objects and road assets. We asked a solution company for a SLAM sample to assess the potential of iSCAN data to generate a high-definition map and digital twin of the road network
• Novel C-ITS messages associated with the cooperative and automated vehicle: C-ITS technology adaptation for the Australian road network is another research opportunity for the iSCAN vehicle. Understanding the long-term impact of using C-ITS and how road users’ behaviour can be changed using C-ITS is another application for which iSCAN can be used. Detecting objects in the vehicle’s blind spot through augmented perception is one of the many applications that iSCAN can be used in Cooperative Vehicle (CV) applications.
• Road user behaviour: Interaction between road users in different use cases is a potential application for iSCAN. Capturing and analysing some of the unique patterns of interaction, such as vulnerable road users, wildlife, vegetation, and hook-turn manoeuvres, can be undertaken using the perception system in the iSCAN vehicle. The platform can be used to understand interactions among different road users and the infrastructure’s readiness for the next generation of vehicles.

Expected project impact

According to Dr Sepehr Dehkordi, NTRO deliberately built capability over years of applied research, commencing in 2006, focused on data-driven insights, infrastructure analytics, field testing, and deployment.

The iSCAN project was pivotal in accelerating that journey, providing a practical platform for integrating sensors, perception systems, and automated data collection under real-world conditions. It moved NTRO from theoretical understanding into hands-on application. Building on this progress, NTRO has advanced from experimentation toward deployment, contributing to milestones such as the introduction of Australia’s first automated bus.

Download the report

Click the button below to download a copy of Interim Report – Phase 3: Testing of vehicle. High-level report – Learnings and Opportunities.