Autonomous shuttling

The project’s goal is to contribute to the development of an electric vehicle sector. PHOTO: FOTOLIA

FPInnovations has rallied a gaggle of technology heavyweights in Quebec to develop an electric autonomous shuttle it hopes to adapt to Canada’s harsh winter conditions.

FPInnovations, a not-for-profit group that develops technologies for Canada’s forestry sector, says the project will involve developers of vision, object recognition, artificial intelligence and navigation systems technologies. The vehicle is also expected to include vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-user and vehicle-to-infrastructure telecommunication systems, in addition to battery management and automatic recharging.

The first series of shuttles will be implemented at Technoparc Montréal before being integrated into the public transit network. Technoparc Montréal will be the first demonstration site.

The name and identity of the product will be chosen through a contest between high school, college, and university students, which will be launched when they return to classes in the fall.

Nadine Bernard will chair the contest selection committee. She is president and CEO of the Grappe industrielle des véhicules électriques et intelligents, which was established in March as Quebec’s industrial cluster dedicated to the development of electric and smart transportation technologies.