The degree of automation in a vehicle is divided into 6 levels, ranging from 0 (no driving automation) to 5 (full driving automation). For instance, Tesla's self-driving capabilities have been rated to level 2 autonomy, which means that both steering and speed are controlled without human interaction.
Whale dynamic is aiming to develop driverless delivery vehicles without the possibility of a human intervening - doing away with steering wheels, pedals, and a driver's seat. To be safe, a high level of autonomy is required - meaning that also complex decisions can be made in a complex environment. The first step to accurate decision-making is to get accurate data of the environment. Therefore, they partnered with Ouster and are now using two OS-128 as the vehicle's primary sensors. In a short video (link below), David Chang, the CEO of Whale Dynamic, explains the testing procedure of their platform.
According to them, their technology is first tested on a plain car until it is finally applied to their own all-electric product.
What impresses us most about Ouster lidar is the performance and functionality it is able to achieve through its SoC [system on chip] - David Chang, CEO of Whale Dynamic
Apart from that, the ability to update the sensors over the air and their future roadmap make Ouster a highly attractive partner.
To learn more about Whale Dynamic, the levels of autonomy, and Ouster automotive, feel free to check out the links provided below.
Whale Dynamic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovjXKWzERy0&t
Levels of Vehicle Autonomy explained: https://www.synopsys.com/automotive/autonomous-driving-levels.html
Ouster Automotive: https://ouster.com/industry/automotive/
