AB Dynamics has unveiled ClearTrack, an advanced object detection system designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of driverless, robot-controlled vehicle testing. Developed in collaboration with its sister company, ABD Solutions, ClearTrack offers a fully integrated approach to detecting and avoiding obstacles during testing, helping automotive manufacturers expand their autonomous durability, misuse, and mileage accumulation programs without compromising safety or productivity.
By automating obstacle recognition and avoidance, ClearTrack maximizes vehicle uptime, streamlines test scheduling, and safeguards valuable prototypes from collisions with unexpected hazards such as wildlife or large debris.
Jonathan Barry, Senior Embedded and Control Software Engineer at AB Dynamics, highlighted the benefits:
“Using robots to remove the driver from repetitive and often demanding tests benefits not just the people involved, but also the cost and efficiency of testing. ClearTrack amplifies these benefits by providing an active detection layer that protects prototypes and enables more vehicles to run simultaneously on the same track.”
Seamless Integration with Driverless Solutions
ClearTrack is designed to work hand-in-hand with AB Dynamics’ existing driverless vehicle control systems. At its core is a high-resolution, solid-state lidar sensor capable of ultra-long-range detection up to 500 meters, specifically engineered for autonomous applications. This is paired with a custom-built perception ECU, a roof-mounted assembly, and a direct connection to the driverless vehicle’s central control unit.
Operation is managed through AB Dynamics’ robot controller software, which already governs speed, steering, and positioning with exceptional precision—within 2cm of a planned path, 0.5km/h of target speed, and 0.5 degrees of steering accuracy.
Real-Time Hazard Detection
ClearTrack continuously calculates the size, shape, location, and movement of objects in the vehicle’s path. If it detects an obstacle that poses a collision risk, the system can instantly trigger an emergency stop to prevent impact. For operational flexibility, it can be tuned to ignore irrelevant objects such as low foliage or other harmless features.
Configurable sensitivity settings allow operators to tailor the system to specific environments, with filters to exclude certain object heights—particularly useful for tracks with tunnels, overpasses, or other fixed structures. This ensures testing remains efficient while maintaining a high safety standard.
Built for Demanding Test Conditions
Designed for quick installation and compatibility with a wide range of vehicles, ClearTrack supports test speeds of up to 130 km/h. It’s engineered to withstand the rigors of durability testing, including rough or uneven terrain, and incorporates motion compensation to prevent lidar data distortion during movement.
Barry added:
“ClearTrack enables OEMs to scale their driverless operations in a way that is both safe and efficient. With better situational awareness, operators can monitor and control more vehicles at once without increasing workload.”
By combining precision robotics, advanced sensing technology, and intelligent software, AB Dynamics’ ClearTrack marks a significant step forward in automated vehicle testing—helping the industry move faster toward safer and more efficient autonomous systems.
