C-Pilot Intelligent system of autonomous driving

2017

The UAV passed 500 thousand kilometers

Cognitive Technologies announced in June, 2017 that test cars on which the intelligent system of management of C-Pilot of the company for the last three years was installed passed about a half of one million kilometers.

"To test our algorithms and to be convinced that they provide quality of detection of objects of a road scene with an indicator close to 99.999999% and by that guarantee security to participants of the movement cars on which our intelligent system of management of C-Pilot is installed need to pass millions of kilometers on different roads, in any natural and weather conditions", - the president of Cognitive Technologies Olga Uskova told.

"Only the extent of test routes in millions of kilometers gives the chance of real assessment of operability of all our systems and identification of problem zones. It is necessary check for an application possibility on public roads. In this sense the digit half a million kilometers is a significant stage of any testing which shows a system maturity", - the Head of Department of development of pilotless Cognitive Technologies vehicles Minkin Yury noted.

From all tests for the movement in bad weather conditions (a rain, snow) about 27% of time were necessary. The share of trips to night-time and in the conditions of insufficient visibility made about 18%.

Developers note that from this distance about 88% were passed on roads of Russia. Other tests took place on roads of the European Union (for carrying out tests 3 cars were used), the USA (5 cars), China (1 car) and Japan (1 car).

"It is known that each of regions of the world has own standards of road signs, a marking and the traffic regulation. Differences exist also in weather and climatic conditions, and as roads, and specifics of traffic flows and surrounding space, and in participants of traffic. For example, in the Asian and African countries before your car elephants, cows and others animals can easily appear. We enter foreign market of intelligent systems of driving now and we for providing the necessary security level need to undergo approbation of our mathematics in various conditions. In the nearest future further testing in Asia and Africa just is also necessary to us", - Olga Uskova told.

Developers note that in the territory of Russia, owing to lack of the legislation permiting the movement on public roads to cars with an active management system, testing was held in the passive mode when the possibility of intervention of an intelligent system of management in process of the movement was disconnected. In the USA the active mode of management was applied in some cases in territories where it is authorized the local legislation.

Updating of C-Pilot

On May 17, 2017 the Cognitive Technologies company announced release of the latest version of a system of C-Pilot - for recognition of the main road signs.

In former options of software, the intelligence of the UAV from Cognitive Technologies coped with "the most critical road signs" from all of them the main classes. The functionality of the appeared version is filled up with a possibility of recognition even more than 40^[1].

These are the signs of special instructions (the directions of the movement on bands, the beginning of a band, the end of a band, a hump, etc.) ordering signs (roundabout, etc.), information (the parking, etc.). In this version of ADAS the efficiency of object recognition of a road scene in difficult conditions including at their partial zasloneniye increased.

Now we are able to see even partially covered pedestrians and cars. We could achieve such result due to use of neural networks. Yury Minkin, Head of Department of development of pilotless Cognitive Technologies vehicles

In the version the object recognition algorithm in night conditions, sharp differences of illumination is improved that is used at the movement in tunnels, during a thunderstorm and other difficult weather conditions. In ADAS the general quality of detecting of objects of a road scene increased.

The quality of recognition is closer to 100%, the more difficultly there is promotion up. Fights are going not for 5 or 10% any more, and for the tenth and 100-th shares of percent that as a result and allows to ensure the maximum traffic safety. Olga Uskova, president of Cognitive Technologies

At the end of August, 2016 the company announced creation of own intellectual platform for off-line control by the C-Pilot cars. It can be established on passenger and other types of cars. Tests of a system are conducted on a prototype of the Nissan X trail car.

Prototype of the car, (2016)

The AI system for the pilotless combine harvester

The Cognitive Technologies company announced in April, 2017 technology of computer vision for automatic driving of the combine harvester - Cognitive Agro Pilot.

2016: Beginning of sales of C-Pilot

The Russian company Cognitive Technologies declared in the summer of 2016 the beginning of sales of an intelligent system of autonomous driving of C-Pilot. A system is intended for installation both on passenger cars, and on other types of cars. Cognitive Technologies created in 1993 generally is engaged in development and deployment of software for document flow and recognition of texts, however, several years develops the systems of artificial intelligence for cargo and agricultural machinery.

Commercialization of C-Pilot is supposed in two formats: OEM (embedding of technology in the systems of different car makers) and bulk sales of a hardware and software system. Now the C-Pilot conducts negotiations "with several foreign and Russian car makers" on deliveries of C-Pilot in the OEM format. The first sales of a system are expected at the beginning of 2017^[2].

2011

The president of Cognitive Technologies group Olga Uskova tells about own behind the scenes: it has UAVs managed by artificial intelligence a world premiere, everything hangs by a thread, but is not torn …^[3]

Everything began as a game and a joke. To me three nonconformists led by future director and the director of this universal premiere came to an office and, having dispersed on office space, began to extort money for the enchanting project. I understood that I am taken in a ring. I saw how Vasily (the most charming mathematician in the world, my institute companion) comes "from a back", I required to provide at least an investment memorandum. But my role of the investor and producer was already initially registered, and not in this office, and somewhere in more serious court registries. As from three innovators beggars the first was my husband, the second — the bosom friend since institute times, and the third — the child prodigy student whom I brought up, everything slid in some gate.

Innovator of N1: O.A., we suggest to create an artificial brain for the unmanned vehicle!

I (having still collapsed in a chair and cheerfully smiling): For what, for what? (Outside there was 2011. The world did not know these words yet.)

N1 (coming and hanging): For the unmanned vehicle. We developed the technology which is based on simulation of work of a neural system of the person which will allow to create artificial brains not worse, than at professional vodila. It is necessary to us slightly, dollars 20.

Я: Twenty million dollars?!

N1: Well not thousands. (Gently reaches for my hand.)

I it is (dry and accurate): Your tricks bothered. Leave the premises. Do not prevent the person to work!

N2 and N1 (carefully coming from two parties): Well, well, well. Everything is very serious. Let's you something show we.

Drag me in a corridor. There behind a football ball some cart with the camera and the motor is wound.

Я: And what? What is it?

Innovators (chorus): Here. Break. Our MYACH SEES machine also plays soccer. We are geniuses. Give money, please …

Well, came it is time to be recognized. There, behind the scenes, was not, there was then nothing by rules of big business. Neither an investment memorandum, nor strategic sessions with consultations of the international experts, and there was only a passion and desire to take the Universe "for a tail". And what is 20 million dollars, in the end of the ends? So, digits on the monitor screen. And here — a new era of mankind. The car from an object turns into a subject thanks to our brains of C-Pilot. Well than not gods? I was doomed to this financing …

Generally, preparation for a world premiere began.

2014. The first steps with this car. At once — 12-ton "KAMAZ". We prepare demonstration for the head of the government and the minister. A polygon in Nizhnekamsk. November. Wind, rain, snow horizontal. Weather at which the American colleagues from Google park the UAVs in garages, and to us to roll the top officials of the state. For an hour prior to an action I approach the chief designer: � Vasily, we cancel?

It raises on me red sleepless eyes. � No. I answer. I will go in front of machine. I am sure.

And was. Journalists then did not understand that this thin fellow in gumboots and a splodgy jacket who was wound in front of the UAV — the chief designer of new reality in automotive industry.

What was behind the scenes of this demonstration: three days without dream — at group in 17 people, one bronchitis — my, one hypertensive crisis — at Vasily, and are a lot of drive — at all.

2017. Europe. Approval of the contract with the largest national producer of cars. The requirement to artificial brains from Russia — is no more than one error for 50 hours of journey. We start the test UAV on the selected streets. And just at once — an error. We do not understand what occurs. Should not, there should not be it. Our hearts fade. The first international partner of such level — and at once an error. All of us attentively peer at the test drive. And suddenly customers begin to neigh and clap us it can do. The UAV recognized a monument as pedestrian. The contract with us was signed then. The European children have an excellent sense of humour.

January 2, 2018. We prepare for a world premiere in Las Vegas. We rent the closed polygon at security agency.

We sit on a tribune. The UAV at a speed of 60 km/h fulfills separate exercises. Now only function of direction finding of the movement is included. Other "brains" are switched off. But in Russia there are no enough closed polygons even in the most security agencies. Our people are higher than all plates "Do not get. Will kill". What miracle this zheltenky minibus appeared on the route, understand still. And then … then time began to flow very slowly. We saw how the yellow avtomobilchik begins to come out to the route the back, we saw how on it with a good speed rolls the UAV, we knew that function of recognition of cars is turned off, we reconciled to the approaching horror, but … at this moment the autobot goes round the obstacle which arose on the following course through a border … Do you think, it became easier for us? No, to us it became even more terrible as the UAV itself solved a task which nobody set for it! Only in 12 days we understood how it turned out …

What the C-Pilot is able to do

Cognitive Technologies reports that today the driver assistance system is ready. She helps to monitor a situation on the road, warns about danger and performs observation of "blind zones". The company has several test samples of cars on which testing and a running in of C-Pilot is held. In particular, tests take place on the Nissan car X-Trail. Developers of the systems of autonomous driving roll more than 1 million km for debugging of an algorithmic part and full certification.

In addition to a program part of C-Pilot includes a complex of sensors: optical cameras, very high frequency radar, leddara and other sensors. Together they are responsible for complex tracking of objects of a road scene in the different ranges of a range. C-Pilot it is also equipped with the high-precision sensor of positioning based on GLONASS/GPS and an electronic gyroscope. The compact airborne computer is engaged in information processing.

The company specified what all softwares for a system is own development of Cognitive Technologies. On development of sensors the firm has several technology partners in the territory of Russia whom the company promises to call later. Cognitive Technologies is going to use as a part of C-Pilot component parts of domestic production to the maximum. Further the company is going to deliver all hardware and software system independently.

Investments into the project

According to the director of the company Olga Uskova, the general investments into the project for the next three years should make one million p750 order. From them it is made about p360 by one million own company funds. Cognitive Technologies meanwhile is the only non-state investor of the project. Still one million p45 enclosed in development of C-Pilot as providing a subsidy of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Cognitive Technologies won tender of the Ministry of Education and Science on the subject "Development of Technology of Increase in Traffic Safety of Cars based on Computer Vision" in 2014.

Development plan for C-Pilot

Cognitive Technologies is going to develop C-Pilot in three stages. On the first (till 2017) the company is going to complete creation of the functionality allowing to warn the driver about situations on the road which require special attention: warning of a descent from a band, recognition of road signs, warning of possible collision, monitoring of "blind zones", warning of zoom-in on the pedestrian, etc.

At the second stage (2018) Cognitive Technologies hopes to implement the system of the active help to the driver assuming intervention in the systems of the car (automatic taxiing, automatic snubbing, maintenance of safe distance to ahead the going car, etc. within a band), at direct supervision of a road situation from the driver.

At the third stage (2019-2022) developers would like to finish technology components for a possibility of the autonomous movement in certain modes (for example, in traffic jams, on highways). The possibility of completely autonomous movement should become a closing stage of development of the project.

Cognitive Technologies perspectives in the world market

According to the director of firm, in future Cognitive Technologies sees himself in the world market. Ambitions of the company are urged on by the fact that the reputation of the Israeli company Mobileye, one of world leading manufacturers of components for auto pilots, suffered after it did not manage to prolong cooperation with Tesla Motors. The American producer of electric cars did not begin to prolong work with Mobileye after the road accident which occurred in the State of Florida, the USA, in May, 2016. The driver of the Tesla Model S electrosedan died because its car collided with truck, despite the included auto pilot.

According to the director of Cognitive Technologies, the autoindustrialists after that conducting should begin to look for an alternative of products of Mobileye which the Russian producer is going to provide them. Cognitive Technologies is so sure of advantages of the product that it expects to occupy 3-5% of the market of autonomous driving by 2022.

Believe in Cognitive Technologies that the world market of the systems of autonomous driving develops rather dynamically. The company relies on the fact that analysts of Lux Research predict its growth from $500 million in 2014 to $10 billion in 2020 and Allied Marked Research expect $25 billion in 2030 higher rates of the market – $60.14 billion to 2020

Participation of Cognitive Technologies in the KAMAZ Unmanned Vehicle project

Learn more: Project:KAMAZ unmanned vehicle

Robotics