Advisory on Next Generation Computer Vision Platform
A fast-growing EU technology startup aimed to expand its business by exploring a new technology area: creating a proof of concept for an innovative computer vision platform. Despite having acquired patents for the underlying technology, they lacked the necessary expertise for real-world implementation.
This R&D project presented a significant challenge in translating theoretical concepts into practical applications.
Objectives and Scope
The primary objective of the project was to leverage the client’s acquired patents to develop a functional PoC for the 3D perception system. Key goals included:
- Transforming theoretical physics into tangible technological solutions. Estimate performance and quality of data that can be reached with available today hardware. Help to build product roadmap analyzing roadmap data from third-party components suppliers.
- Establishing a foundational understanding of the core technology benefits and the strength of intellectual property.
- Analyzing competitors and defining main Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for solution benchmarking. Benchmarking must be informative and easy to apply to compare with existing technologies.
- Planning a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) scope with clear milestones. Implement effective delivery management strategies to streamline project timelines and ensure quality outcomes.
- Lead the setup and organization of a development team, including resource allocation and task delegation. Provide technical support and guidance to team members throughout the development process.
- Coordinate and execute technology presentations for public events, showcasing innovative solutions and engaging with stakeholders effectively.
Approach
Our team delved deeply into understanding the landscape surrounding our project. We began with a thorough review of the intellectual property acquired by our customer, aiming to identify pivotal claims and space for further development. Our research and analysis were focused on several key areas:
- Evaluation of Core Technology Benefits and Intellectual Property Strength: We scrutinized the advantages offered by core technology and assessed the robustness of intellectual property portfolio, identifying gaps and opportunities.
- Competitor Analysis: Through a comprehensive examination of competitors, we gained insights into their market positioning, strengths, and weaknesses, allowing our customer to strategically position themselves.
- Regulatory Environment Analysis: Understanding the regulatory landscape was crucial to ensure compliance and navigate any legal constraints or opportunities that could impact our project’s development and deployment.
- Definition of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): We established clear and measurable KPIs to evaluate the success and progress of our project, ensuring alignment with our objectives and enabling effective tracking of performance.
By conducting this thorough research and analysis, we equipped ourselves with valuable insights essential for decision-making and strategic planning as we moved forward with the project.
Technology
The core technology powering the 3D perception system combines laser scanning, event cameras, and advanced vision software to produce real-time 4D images of objects. The system utilizes a high-speed laser beam for scanning the area in front of the sensor, while event sensors capture the reflected laser beams within a range of up to 30 meters. This setup enables the analysis of both shape and movement of objects with ultra-low latency, providing detailed spatial and temporal information in real-time.
ROS, Ubuntu, Docker, C/C++, OpenCV, Point Cloud Library, Metavision SDK
Outcome
Our team guided the client in selecting an appropriate technology stack for the project and built PoC to validate proposed technologies. This prototype served as a foundation for the development of fully-fledged solutions. The successful demonstration of the PoC at public industry events garnered attention and secured additional funding for the client’s expansion into the new market.
In our advisory, we have focused on delivering the following:
- High-level solution concepts for basic software
- System architecture for the main platform components
- A comprehensive Project Charter, including a project roadmap and effort estimation
- Support in detailed requirements elicitation and clarification
- Participation in workshops with potential clients and technology presentation at CES. Handling communication with platform key components suppliers.