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But making a plan and seeing it through are two different things. While things around the world became sidelined thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, things are picking back up again in Toronto’s quest to become autonomous-vehicle friendly.
Ecopia AI: Toronto’s AV Cartographer
The city’s recent announcement of a mapping partner, Ecopia AI, is a significant step in realizing the AV roadmap. However, Toronto is a busy, bustling city with lots of obstacles to overcome when it comes to accurate mapping. From an overabundance of signs and rules to streetcar and bike lanes, it seems the streets of the big city can confuse even seasoned drivers — especially with major construction projects popping up all the time.
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The aerial mapping process may be a concern where roads are on top of each other, like how the Gardiner covers Lakeshore in Downtown Toronto, but overall the maps seem detailed enough to provide a starting point for Toronto’s AV ambitions.
“The development of a high definition map of Toronto is a key milestone in our Autonomous Vehicle Tactical Plan, and Ecopia’s efforts will help drive us towards that future. This initiative is a great example of Toronto’s robust innovation ecosystem and our ability to foster public and private partnerships that help us achieve common goals and a vision for a healthy, equitable, liveable and sustainable city,” said John Tory, Mayor of the City of Toronto about the partnership with Ecopia AI.
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The shuttle makes a six-kilometre journey from the Whitby GO Transit station, looping through the Port Whitby area. At the time of its trial, it was the longest AV shuttle route on the continent. Like the Toronto shuttle, this is just a trial to see how shuttles can integrate into the broader transit plan in the future.
The vehicle used in these trials is a Local Motors Olli 2.0, which has a capacity for eight passengers, as well as an AV attendant in case there’s something on the route that the vehicle can’t handle on its own.
The Force Behind It All: Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network
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AVIN is behind many of the province’s AV pushes, providing support and resources. For example, Ecopia AI received $994,706 from the Government of Ontario to match an industry contribution of $2,039,561 to develop the mapping technology related to Toronto’s AV project.
“Through pilot programs for testing automated vehicles on Ontario roads, and investments into innovative projects like this initiative by Ecopia, Ontario has established itself as a global leader in the connected and automated vehicle industry,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Autonomous vehicles have the potential to make transportation more efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly. Our government is proud to support Ontario-based businesses working to make a more connected and convenient transportation system a reality.”
By providing the means to connect the province’s post-secondary institutions, R&D centres, innovation hubs, and connected and autonomous (C/AV) testing facilities, AVIN is playing a significant role in the development and hopeful rollout of next-generation mobility technology. With the recent progress in Toronto and elsewhere in the province, it seems that the AV future is getting ever closer.