or one, Orlando’s Luminar is taking grand steps to shape
on the UF campus and surrounding highway network.
fewer distractions allow self-driving vehicles to shine.
However, traffic lights, pedestrians, scooters and more
the industry. The technology improves upon the already
available use of LiDAR to help close the gap on current The project, called I-STREET, tests technology to improve unpredictable driver behavior in densely populated areas
accidents from lacking technology. safety and mobility. This is not a closed course facility, but require more connectivity and ‘foresight’ by the vehicles.
one on busy streets with regular traffic. Proper connectivity
LiDAR is a sensor using lasers to measure distance and between infrastructure, vehicles and people is essential
creates a 3-D view of the environment. LiDAR is already for success.
in use by the industry, however, Luminar’s breakthrough
improvement delivers 50 times better resolution and Lily Elefteriadou, Ph.D., is central to this work. She is
10 times longer range … thereby increasing reaction director of UFTI and interim department chair of Industrial
time, according to the company. At least one major auto and Systems Engineering at UF. Other research includes
manufacturer agrees as the Luminar sensor is being used in an autonomous vehicle named the NaviGATOR, and the
the Toyota Research Institute’s latest self-driving test vehicle. development of sensors for the City’s buses to alert
“I think it’s going to take a
while until the system is fully
autonomous,” said Elefteriadou.
“Definitely not in the next 10
years. Twenty or 30 years might
be a more realistic time frame.”
passengers with bicycles if bus bike racks are filled
“We moved swiftly and early to adopt the Luminar
before waiting to find that out themselves.
platform into our fleet, and as a result we’re rapidly
Eric Hill, MetroPlan Orlando director of transportation
system management and operations agrees. So, how
advancing our program,” said James Kuffner, chief “There are several components of autonomous vehicles is MetroPlan Orlando preparing for more autonomous
technology officer, Toyota Research Institu te. “The level that don’t require the driver to pay attention, but we’re vehicles on the road?
of data fidelity and range is unlike anything we’ve seen definitely not at the point where the driver can completely and is essential to be able to develop and deliver the give up control,” said Elefteriadou. “The driver still needs “That’s the $64,000 question,” Hill said. “Because many
most advanced automated driving systems.” to be aware. I think we are making slow and incremental organizations like MetroPlan Orlando are trying to wrap
steps to get there, and it’s a very promising area.” our arms, our minds, around the whole phenomena of
Research continues in Gainesville as the University of
autonomous vehicles. We are planning for something
Florida (UF) and its Transportation Institute (UFTI), the The challenge comes in urban transportation. Highway
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the driving has already proven to be an easier beast to tackle
City of Gainesville partner to create a “smart testbed” as more common straightaways, consistent speeds and
6
that we really don’t understand.”
Historically, MetroPlan Orlando has been able to rely on