COAST Autonomous selects LeddarTech’s solid-state LiDAR technology as the most reliable solution to achieve maximum safety levels for its autonomous “Bigfoot” delivery vehicle

LeddarTech®, an industry leader in environmental sensing solutions for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, congratulates COAST Autonomous on the first deployment of the Leddar™ Pixell in an autonomous delivery vehicle (ADV) at the Kinney County Railport (KCRP) near Brackettville, Texas. KCRP is one of several railyards operated by Harbor Rail Services Company of California. COAST Autonomous selected LeddarTech’s Leddar Pixell Cocoon LiDAR with its 360-degree vehicle coverage as a supplier for this project.

COAST Autonomous, founded by veterans of the self-driving industry, chose LeddarTech’s technology because of its ability to deliver enhanced safety for COAST Autonomous’ vehicles. The robustness and reliability of LeddarTech’s solid-state Flash LiDAR technology meet demanding mobility conditions and make it the technology of choice toward preventing collisions, especially in an industrial environment where pedestrian and vehicle traffic is less controlled than in an urban environment.

The COAST Autonomous electric ADVs operate CO2 emission-free and enable Harbor Rail to operate and move equipment and supplies 24 hours a day in their industrial environment safely and efficiently. These electric vehicles are equipped with technology that enables autonomous driving with solid-state Flash LiDAR technology provided by LeddarTech. COAST Autonomous has developed self-driving vehicles that integrate several detection technologies, including LiDAR and camera. LeddarTech’s Leddar Pixell provides full coverage with no dead zones within the entire perimeter of the vehicle, also referred to as the “cocoon.” This protects all workers on an industrial site, on foot or in another vehicle, who may approach the ADV in stop-and-go situations.

“It has been a great opportunity to deploy vehicles at KCRP. The railyard is the perfect environment to show how autonomous vehicles function, particularly in an industrial environment, keeping the workforce safer and improving efficiency by allowing them to focus on more highly skilled tasks,” stated Pierre Lefevre, Chief Technology Officer at COAST Autonomous. “Safety is our priority, and that is why we use the Leddar Pixell. With more than a decade of experience building LiDAR sensors, LeddarTech is the perfect partner for us and has consistently shown it could exceed our expectations.”

“We are honored that our Cocoon LiDAR solutions were selected and trusted by COAST Autonomous to be part of its autonomous “Bigfoot” delivery vehicle,” stated Adrian Pierce, VP, Global Sales & Business Development at LeddarTech. “COAST has an amazing track record, and it is exciting to see them launch a delivery service at a railyard. The first element of COAST’s charter is safety, and the deployment of LeddarTech’s Cocoon LiDAR supports that charter and the commitment COAST makes to their customers.” Mr. Pierce concluded that “making mobility applications safer is at the core of our DNA. Our technology offers the right balance of performance and cost-effectiveness and is ready for deployment.”