Innovating In-Cabin Experience: LeddarTech & Humber College Collaboration

In an exciting partnership, LeddarTech and Humber College are pioneering the future of in-cabin automotive experiences. The collaboration, which began in 2023, brings together top-tier academic talent and cutting-edge AI technology to explore new possibilities in automotive design and user interaction. This initiative has given students the unique opportunity to work with LeddarTech’s industry-leading perception and display technologies, shaping the next generation of autonomous driving systems.

 

 

How It All Began: A Meeting of Minds

This partnership was sparked at the 2022 APMA conference, where initial collaboration discussions started. By early 2023, LeddarTech and Humber College had laid the foundation for an internship and competition program, with the aim of educating and inspiring students about autonomous driving technology and in-cabin interface design. The project kicked off in August 2023, with an internship that allowed students to work hands-on with LeddarTech’s Principal AI Scientist, Dr. Reza Rashidi Far, on designing advanced display interfaces for autonomous vehicles.

Key Milestones:

  • Initial Talks: Early 2023, sparked by APMA 2022
  • Internship Start: August 2023
  • Collaboration Leaders: Dr. Dennis Kappen & Dr. George Paravantes (Humber College), Dr. Reza Rashidi Far (LeddarTech)

Phase 1: The 2024 LeddarTech HMI Design Competition

In January 2024, the collaboration officially launched with the first round of the LeddarTech HMI Design Competition. Over the course of seven weeks, 60 students from the Industrial Design and UX/UI programs at Humber College participated in a rigorous design challenge. Their goal: to develop display interfaces that would enhance the in-cabin experience for autonomous vehicles.

  • Participants: 60 students from Industrial Design & UX/UI
  • Duration: 7 weeks (January-February 2024)
  • Focus Areas:
    • ADAS and autonomous driving
    • Operational Design Domain (ODD)
    • LeddarTech’s Perception Module
    • Car displays and interface designs

Each week, students presented their progress to a panel of experts from LeddarTech and Humber College, receiving feedback and guidance to improve their designs. At the end of the competition, the top three teams were awarded for their innovative approaches, with $8,000 in prize money donated by LeddarTech.

 

 

 

Phase 2: Advancing the Vision

Building on the success of the first competition, Phase 2 began in June 2024, with a smaller group of graduates continuing to push the boundaries of in-cabin interface design. With a new scope defined in collaboration with Humber’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), this phase aimed to explore both contemporary and futuristic technologies for in-cabin experiences.

Key Features of Phase 2:

  • Selected Participants: 10 graduates
  • Duration: 6 consecutive days in June 2024
  • Focus Areas:
    • Contemporary and futuristic technology solutions
    • Enhanced team collaboration and ideation
  • Outcomes: Continued refinement of display interface concepts with practical and visionary applications

Each day began with scrum meetings to encourage rapid ideation and problem-solving. The process was intensive but rewarding, with LeddarTech providing additional financial support and even hosting pizza days to keep the teams fueled and motivated.

 

Key Highlights of the LeddarTech & Humber College Partnership:

  • Hands-on experience for students with cutting-edge AI and perception technology
  • Two phases of design competitions fostering innovation in autonomous vehicle interface design
  • Engineering expertise and financial support by LeddarTech to support student innovation and competition rewards
  • Opportunities for students to present their work to industry professionals and potential partners

This collaboration is not just about creating better automotive technology; it’s about shaping the future of mobility and inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Realizing the Vision

As LeddarTech and Humber College continue their partnership, exciting possibilities lie ahead. The videos and ideas generated during these competitions have already been shared with LeddarTech’s upper management, showcasing the immense potential of these student-driven projects. The work done here also opens doors to potential industry partnerships that could bring these concepts to life in real-world applications.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore and innovate the in-cabin experience of tomorrow’s autonomous vehicles!