Connectivity technology selected for new autonomous systems

Autonomous vehicles are highly complex and dynamic systems. These systems must meet demanding requirements including safety, security and fast data processing. Connext DDS provides the essential framework needed to reliably communicate between nodes within the autonomous car.

Balancing the communication requirements of a multitude of subsystems is critical to ensuring that information moves seamlessly throughout the vehicle. Connext DDS provides the tools necessary to make such a complex system practical.

NextDroid relies on RTI to manage the full scope of messaging in the company’s autonomous systems. Their distributed computing architecture requires a form of seamless connectivity where software modules can freely move around computational resources as the system evolves. The data passing between NextDroid’s modules is highly varied.

Sensor data within NextDroid’s systems is often high bandwidth, and requires timely deliver to multiple nodes. This is intermingled with control signals and event-based messages, which have differing requirements on bandwidth, latency and reliability. They need a guarantee that messages will be delivered quickly and efficiently, from sensors, through software modules, to controllers, with minimal overhead.

“Robotics and automation capabilities are rapidly becoming a requirement for most industries,” said Daniel Gandhi, Director of Autonomous Vehicles at NextDroid. 

“As NextDroid brings these technologies from the research lab to market, we look to RTI Connext DDS to provide our connectivity solution. Fielding autonomous vehicles to consumers requires not only performance and flexibility today, but the safety, security and reliability to deploy at scale. For systems that need to operate for billions of miles over decades, we rely on the proven pedigree of RTI's Connext DDS.”

“Intelligent, autonomous systems are driving the largest market transition in history,” said Bob Leigh, Senior Market Development Director, Autonomous Systems, at RTI.

“Connectivity is the driving technology of this market evolution and we are thrilled to work with innovative companies like NextDroid to accelerate adoption. As the autonomous vehicle market evolves, RTI Connext DDS continues to play a crucial role in accelerating the design, development and safety of these autonomous systems by providing an efficient, cost effective and customised path for each of our customers.”