Bike-Facilities, Ursa Dynamics, FlashEye and Hesai Technology have developed an intelligent roadside perception system that adds traffic-sensing capabilities to existing infrastructure without new civil works. The system, built around Hesai’s JT128 LiDAR, was demonstrated at the VeloCity bike exhibition in Rimini.

Traffic counters, radar and inductive loops each capture only part of the traffic picture. That gap has left cities without a single, real-time source of data as they invest in cycling infrastructure and Low Emission Zones (LEZ).

Bike-Facilities supplies the roadside infrastructure, Ursa Dynamics built the hardware platform, FlashEye provides the perception software, and Hesai supplies the JT128 LiDAR. A single installation can detect cyclists, pedestrians, scooters, motorcycles, cars, buses and trucks, tracking each one’s position, speed and direction.

The system also supports applications such as cyclist counting, adaptive traffic light prioritisation and unauthorised-vehicle detection in restricted zones. LiDAR’s ability to add so many uses from one installation is one of its main advantages over single-purpose sensors.

The JT128 LiDAR combines wide-area coverage, high point-cloud density and automotive-grade reliability, allowing it to operate in complex urban environments day and night. The partners said the project shows that upgrading existing infrastructure can add new capabilities without building new systems.

Source: Hesai