{"id":56380,"date":"2019-05-13T16:26:19","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T20:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=56380"},"modified":"2025-09-30T11:52:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:52:55","slug":"autonomous-vehicles-inside-track","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/autonomous-vehicles-inside-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaining the Inside Track"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Gaining the Inside Track\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

When it comes to developing the future of connected and autonomous vehicles in Canada, there appears to be nothing but green lights on the horizon for the national capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having already played host to Canada\u2019s first on-road test of an autonomous vehicle connected to live city infrastructure in 2017, Ottawa now looks poised to solidify its reputation as the country\u2019s hub for connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies in announcing that its private L5 Nepean test track<\/a> \u2013 the first integrated CAV testing environment of its kind in North America \u2013 would open its doors in early 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the official opening set for May 17, Carleton plans a big presence that will include Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and several top researchers in the field. The university plans to have tech lab facilities on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gaining
Greg Kent, head of traffic management for the City of Ottawa and graduate of Carleton\u2019s civil engineering program (BEng\/87) has been working on L5\u2019s development with Invest Ottawa and its partners. (Photo: Adam Landry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Originally announced by Invest Ottawa in May 2018 with funding from Ontario\u2019s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network<\/a> program and support from the City of Ottawa and industry partners, L5 refers to the highest stage of vehicle automation \u2013 with \u201clevel five\u201d defining fully autonomous and driverless capability. The facility\u2019s all-new private test track will serve as a functioning urban road network complete with traffic signals, signs and markings, as well the ability to access both current and future communication networks.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cAll of these elements are key to having a realistic and practical test facility,\u201d says Greg Kent, Ottawa\u2019s head of traffic management and graduate of Carleton\u2019s Civil Engineering<\/a> program (BEng\/87).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Kent, who has been working hand-in-hand with Invest Ottawa and its partners on L5\u2019s development, explains that Ottawa\u2019s advanced traffic control network has played a major role in establishing the city\u2019s reputation as an ideal testing ground for intelligent infrastructure technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are one of the only systems in North America that can communicate with each of its traffic signals in real time,\u201d he says. \u201cRight here at our control centre, we can adapt the timing of roughly 1,200 sets of signals throughout the city in order to help us react to developing traffic and weather conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Testing Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Less than Ideal Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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While Ottawa is renowned for its harsh winters, Kent sees a silver lining to regular snowfalls and extreme temperatures in that it enables the city to test CAV technologies in a wide variety of less than favourable conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also notes that the capital benefits from playing host to an abundance of high-tech industry, federal agencies and academic leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOttawa is known as a tech hub within Canada and beyond, with a plentiful support structure of resources and talent,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWe also have the advantage of working with top notch academic institutions located in our very own backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Prior to L5\u2019s announcement, Kent and his team began work on another specialized CAV project, known as the EcoDrive Infrastructure to Vehicle (I2V) Connected Vehicle pilot, co-led by Carleton Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof. Ata Khan. Funded through Transport Canada\u2019s Program to Advance Connectivity and Automation in the Transportation System<\/a>, the project (now in its second iteration) aims to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of traffic networks by enhancing I2V communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gaining
Ottawa\u2019s Traffic Control Centre can adapt each of the city\u2019s 1,200 sets of signals in real time to help the system react to developing traffic and weather conditions. (Photo: Adam Landry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAssessment of connected vehicles suggests that this form of technology has the potential to make driving safer and reduce traffic congestion,\u201d says Khan, who also serves as the director of Carleton\u2019s Transportation Research Centre<\/a>. \u201cThese effects will be made possible by augmenting the capability of vehicles to recognize and anticipate risks and dynamically calculate optimal routes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In focusing on urban driving, Khan has also been investigating how connected vehicles can better communicate with one another, as well as roadside infrastructure, to reduce idling, stop frequency and unnecessary accelerations and decelerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the long run, Kent believes this area of research will help pave the way for integrating advanced autonomous systems into everything from buses to snow plows.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cEmbedding these types of efficiencies into public transit and essential road services would prove to be an immense cost-savings measure,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While Khan\u2019s research is well positioned to take advantage of L5\u2019s unique capabilities in the near future, numerous researchers at Carleton are eager to see the facility open its doors, including cybersecurity expert and Information Technology<\/a> Prof. Richard Yu.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Developing Advanced Security Solutions for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Having been involved in the development of Canada\u2019s upcoming 5G wireless network<\/a> for more than eight years, Yu is currently partnered with BlackBerry QNX<\/a> and Transport Canada<\/a> as part of a multi-year initiative with the Canadian Safety and Security Program<\/a> to develop advanced security solutions for connected and autonomous vehicles in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Yu, the risks and vulnerabilities that could potentially affect connected vehicles include the security of communication links, validity of data, access control and even the privacy of drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurrently, we\u2019re working to develop advanced security and privacy schemes that will enable smart, connected and autonomous vehicles to be safer and more secure,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cBy focusing on solutions that account for system resource constraints, high vehicle mobility, and security and privacy requirements for intelligent transportation systems, we can ensure their widespread deployment becomes both practical and commercially viable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Yu also notes that the federal government\u2019s recent announcement of a joint $350-million investment with BlackBerry QNX to support developing CAV technologies in Canada will have immense impact for researchers at Carleton, especially with much of that research set to take place in Ottawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gaining
L5\u2019s private test track in Nepean features 16 kilometers of paved roads that will serve as proving grounds for CAV technologies in connected and secure environments. (Image courtesy Invest Ottawa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn terms of research and development of CAV technologies in Canada, it’s a really big deal,\u201d he says. \u201cWe need more investment from government, industry and academia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Yu continues to develop new methods to protect our roadways<\/a>, he mentions that a number of technical obstacles also need to be overcome before level five automation can be broadly achieved, such as ensuring CAV decision-making capabilities remain reliable regardless of weather and poor visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCanada\u2019s harsh winters present additional challenges that will have to be solved before full-scale autonomy can be implemented across all levels of infrastructure,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cAdditional research and development is needed to ensure that fully autonomous systems maintain their reliability in all-weather scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Mohamed Atia, assistant professor in Carleton\u2019s Department of Electronics<\/a>, also understands that dependable navigation will be crucial to facilitating autonomous driving year-round. To address the problem, he has begun work on enhancing the lane determination capabilities of CAVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo far, lane determination systems have relied upon visual road markers in order to localize a vehicle within its lane or to detect lane changes,\u201d he says. \u201cThis method works well in clear weather with adequate visibility. However, when conditions begin to deteriorate, the use of additional sensors and added communication becomes necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Transcending the High-Tech Automotive Sector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Atia has already begun collaborating with partners at L5 on the matter and is set to conduct data collection and experimental work once the facility opens its doors. As one of the first sets of researchers scheduled to performing testing at L5\u2019s private test track, he is excited for the opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccess to expensive equipment is not always easy for early career researchers like myself,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cIn collaborating with L5, this research will be able to take advantage of the facility\u2019s high-precision satellite navigation system, wireless connectivity and road infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While Atia is currently focused on bringing enhanced autonomous systems to our roadways, he also describes Canada\u2019s CAV industry as a broad ecosystem that transcends the high-tech automotive sector, fostering increased development in a variety of supportive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and wireless communication, to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt goes without saying that rapid development in these areas is supporting the evolution of Canada\u2019s CAV market,\u201d he says. \u201cHowever these technologies have also been furthering developments in other sectors such as health care and business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resulting impact, according to Atia, is that new doors will likely open for engineering and IT professionals who may be interested in pursuing careers beyond the burgeoning high-tech auto industry.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cA great deal of opportunity exists for our students and graduates specifically, given Ottawa\u2019s status as an industry hub for many of these technologies,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ramy Gohary, assistant professor in Carleton\u2019s Department of Systems and Computer Engineering<\/a>, also recognizes that increased career prospects exist for students choosing to expand their skillset in CAV-related technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gaining
First launched in 2018, Professor Gohary developed an all-new fourth year Capstone design project that challenges undergraduate students to develop specialized autonomous tracking and crash avoidance systems. (Photo courtesy Ramy Gohary)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, he has launched an all-new fourth year capstone design project which challenges interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students to develop specialized tracking and crash avoidance systems using a multitude of sensors, radars, cameras and communication modules.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cSo far, our students have successfully fused data arriving from these peripherals in order to instruct small-scale autonomous vehicles to speed up, slow down, stop, steer in a particular direction or make tactical manoeuvers based on their surroundings,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The project has also garnered industry attention, attracting support from both telecommunications giant Ericsson<\/a> and BlackBerry QNX, who has begun collaborating with students on the analysis of sensor data and interfacing of advanced radar units with their vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a number of students from last year\u2019s iteration of the project having already gone on to secure positions with Ericsson and BlackBerry QNX, among other industry leaders, Gohary hopes the project\u2019s success will continue to drive students toward rewarding careers in Canada\u2019s ever-expanding CAV industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students working on this project to date have exceeded the expectations of both myself and our industry partners,\u201d he says. \u201cMany have already found positions at a number of key players in the CAV industry, while others have instead decided to pursue their master\u2019s here at Carleton, recognizing the growing demand for added expertise in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to developing the future of connected and autonomous vehicles in Canada, there appears to be nothing but green lights on the horizon for the national capital. Having already played host to Canada\u2019s first on-road test of an autonomous vehicle connected to live city infrastructure in 2017, Ottawa now looks poised to solidify […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":56395,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[28,13,19],"cu_story_tag":[1918,1929,1925],"class_list":["post-56380","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-community-partnerships","cu_story_type-research-discovery","cu_story_type-technology-innovation","cu_story_tag-faculty-of-engineering-and-design","cu_story_tag-president","cu_story_tag-research"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/56380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/56380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97323,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/56380\/revisions\/97323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=56380"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=56380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}