Based on the customer’s own vehicle data and additional ZF sensor data recordings – the reference measurement – the cloud-based service solution provides the “ground truth.” ZF Annotate acts as a redundant setup that is independent of the sensor set to be checked and is confronted with the same information while driving on the road. The recorded data is then uploaded to the cloud and analyzed. Thanks to artificial intelligence, all relevant objects are accurately marked, classified, attributed and assigned unique ID numbers and moving objects are tracked. This object information forms part of the complete description of the environment model — the ground truth. After this “annotation,” the software provides a highly precise comparative measurement. This makes ZF Annotate a state-of-the-art, AI-supported validation solution for testing and training modern ADAS/AD systems from Level 2+ to Level 5.
Previous comparable systems mainly relied on 2D annotation for the validation of reference data and thus map the environment in distance and horizontal angle. The 3D-capable ZF Annotate adds height information to the data.
The precise and reliable data from ZF Annotate’s reference measurements can therefore significantly accelerate the development and fine-tuning of complex ADAS and AD systems. Until now, the validation of such systems involved a great deal of work and was correspondingly time-consuming and costly, as the reference data was traditionally annotated manually by humans.
Depending on customer requirements, the reference sensors are either used on the test vehicle itself or in “Pursuit” mode. This is a sensor set mounted on a separate reference data vehicle. Pursuit mode can be used without major adjustments to the vehicle being tested – for example, when evaluating parking scenarios in public spaces.
This flexibility in application makes ZF Annotate independent of specific sensor manufacturers. The otherwise cost-intensive modification of customers’ high-tech test vehicles is also no longer necessary. Customers can therefore also include the service in development projects that have already been started. In this way, ZF Annotate supports the validation process in the most effective way and thus the goals of every developer on the way to a flawless product.
Furthermore, the reference data recorded is not just limited to a front view. Depending on customer requirements, the reference sensor set can provide a comprehensive 360-degree view, providing a detailed and precise representation of the vehicle’s surroundings.
ZF is known for developing new technologies for various application areas. ZF Annotate can be used across all vehicle classes in both the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors.
