Early iterations of the technology were developed by Roke in research undertaken for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Since then, it has been developing and miniaturising the technology with the help of funding from Innovate UK.
Roke showed the ‘black box’ fitted to an autonomous Toyota Prius. The car avoided a number of hazards before simulating a road traffic accident. Roke’s engineers then developed a high definition 3D reconstruction
Dr James Revell, a consultant engineer at Roke, said: “Unlike current dashcams, the technology we tested today uses computer vision algorithms to enable the precise position and orientation of any vehicle – car, bike, lorry or autonomous vehicle. This allows for the near perfect 3D reconstruction of any accident, even if the vehicle loses complete control.”
According to Roke, the device could offer insurers, drivers and manufacturers independent evidence of what happened in an accident. This, it believes, will not just lead to safer vehicles, but also help to build public trust in driverless vehicles.
With further investment, the technology might also prove useful for sports coaching or meet wider needs in the transport industry.