Edge.Auto’s HDR camera lineup explained
Starting this month, we’re kicking off a blog series all about TIER IV’s cameras. The first installment explains why TIER IV decided to develop cameras in the first place and features an overview of digital camera technology.
TIER IV, a company better known for developing autonomous driving software, specializes in applications based on the open-source software Autoware. While there might be many people wondering why a company developing autonomous driving applications is making cameras, it’s worth emphasizing that our product offerings go beyond just software.
TIER IV’s three main products:
- Web.Auto: A cloud platform for the development and operation of autonomous driving systems
- Pilot.Auto: An autonomous driving software platform
- Edge.Auto: A reference platform tailored for autonomous driving
Edge.Auto was designed to address the challenge of selecting sensors, computers, and hardware in the development of autonomous vehicles and other autonomous technology that relies upon cutting-edge equipment.
It’s important to note that the platform is not limited to autonomous driving. It covers everything from construction equipment, agricultural machinery, logistics, public transportation, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Camera development was one of the first projects under Edge.Auto. The lineup currently includes high dynamic range automotive cameras, edge perception development kits and sensor fusion development kits.
Autonomous vehicles rely on sensors such as LiDAR, radar, and cameras — often referred to as “eyes” that gather information. This data is then processed by an electric control unit (ECU), which serves as the vehicle’s “brain” to control functions like acceleration and braking — the vehicle’s “hands and feet.” Just as humans cannot drive with their eyes closed, autonomous vehicles require sensors to navigate. Moreover, these sensors must be high-performance.
Among the various sensors employed, cameras are a cost-effective choice that provide detailed spatial information. They also capture color data that other sensors cannot, making them indispensable for autonomous driving technology.
The kinds of cameras typically deployed by major automotive manufacturers are difficult to procure at the scale required by companies such as TIER IV. Meanwhile, widely available industrial-use cameras on the market pose concerns about their quality and reliability. This situation prompted TIER IV to develop our own camera in collaboration with manufacturing partners in 2021.
TIER IV cameras have been adopted by a broad range of customers so far, including universities, research institutions and other companies involved in the research and development of autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). As of July 2024, the C1 Camera and C2 Camera models are currently available to purchase, and earlier this year we showcased our upcoming C3 Camera at CES.
Digital camera technology
A digital camera records optical information as digital data, serving as an interface between the real and digital worlds. The applications of digital cameras are vast, including:
- Smartphones (advanced camera quality being a key selling point)
- SLR and mirrorless cameras
- Action and vlogging cameras
- Drones
- Medical devices (endoscopy and remote surgery systems)
- High-end broadcast cameras
- Security and surveillance systems
- Cameras for industrial inspection devices
The core component of digital cameras is the image sensor, which functions similarly to film in traditional cameras. The image sensor converts light received through the lens into electrical signals (voltage or current), which are further converted into digital data. While CCD image sensors were once predominant, nowadays nearly all cameras use CMOS image sensors.
Another core component of digital cameras is the image signal processor (ISP), which performs image processing tasks on the raw image data output from the image sensor to enhance its quality. Think of it as applying makeup to a bare face.
After image processing is performed by the ISP, image data can be displayed on a screen or input to computer vision. The signal flow:
Image Sensor
↓
ISP
↓
Image display ECU, computer vision ECU (referred to as perception ECU at TIER IV)
In the case of camera systems installed in things like autonomous vehicles, the physical placement of the components — image sensor, ISP, and ECU — is determined by the overall vehicle architecture. For instance, in a surround viewing monitor (SVM) system, cameras are typically mounted in the following positions:
- Near the front bumper
- Side mirrors (left and right)
- Near the rear bumper
The ECU responsible for image processing and display is typically located near the center of the vehicle. When components are positioned far apart, there is a need to transmit high-bandwidth signals over longer distances.
SerDes (serializer/deserializer) is a widely used technology to address such challenges in automotive applications. It enables the transmission of high-bandwidth image data, power supply, and various control signals through a single cable. The main suppliers of SerDes equipment include:
- Analog Devices (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link: GMSL)
- Texas Instruments (Flat Panel Display Link: FPD-LINK)
- Sony (Gigabit Video InterFace: GVIF)
TIER IV cameras feature Analog Devices’ GMSL2 across all models. We will talk more about this camera interface technology in a future article from this Edge.Auto series of blogs. Stay tuned for the next installment, which delves into the internal structure and operation details of CMOS image sensors.
If you’re interested in TIER IV’s automotive cameras, they are available on Amazon. For direct inquiries, please reach out to us via the contact form on the Edge.Auto website.
Yuichi Motohashi | Edge.Auto Team
Specializing in automotive CMOS image sensors and camera systems, Yuichi has been in charge of Edge.Auto cameras and development kits since 2023. Before joining TIER IV, he was involved in planning, developing, and commercialization of CMOS image sensors for automotive use, working with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in Europe and the United States.
TIER IV is always on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our journey. If you share our vision of making autonomous driving accessible to all, get in touch.
We’re currently hiring for the following related positions:
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If you’re uncertain about which roles align best with your experience, or if the current job openings don’t quite match your preferences, register your interest here. We’ll get in touch if a role that matches your experience becomes available, and schedule an informal interview.
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