Clearpath Robotics launched its OutdoorNav autonomous navigation software platform. OutdoorNav is designed to help vehicle developers, OEMs and robotics researchers accelerate the development process for their robots and autonomous vehicles.
The platform is compatible with Clearpath’s outdoor mobile platforms, like the Jackal UGV, Husky UGV and Warthog UGV, and third-party industrial vehicles with drive-by-wire control, and can provide them with reliable GPS-based navigation. Clearpath provides point-to-point navigation through its proprietary fusion of vehicle sensor data.
When paired with compatible hardware components, OutdoorNav can provide built-in obstacle detection and avoidance as well as continuous path planning to allow off-road vehicles to navigate autonomously between waypoints.
“Robotics product development can often be a difficult, sometimes harrowing experience,” Bryan Webb, President of Clearpath Robotics, said. “Building a robust navigation system is expensive and risky, and it may prevent you from bringing your product to market in a timely fashion. We built and designed OutdoorNav to streamline your development of autonomous vehicles. You no longer need a full team of robotics navigation experts and months of prototyping to get your autonomous system into the field.”
The software can be accessed through a web-based user interface or through a documented Application Programming Interface (API). The interface lets users create, edit, monitor and manage autonomous missions. Users can also visualize data from onboard sensors, and even view the vehicle’s live position on an interactive map. The interface also allows users to assign customized tasks, like capturing sensor data from onboard, at waypoints.
Clearpath’s web-based interface also supports teleoperation mode, where users can command and control vehicles remotely using a cellular connection and a virtual joystick. The platform can easily visualize onboard sensor data from cameras and LiDARs in real-time.
Users can also integrate their custom ROS-based applications and graphical user interfaces with the software’s well-documented API, or by connecting third-party fleet management tools. Overall, the system aims to fast-track autonomy development and save on development costs while providing industry-leading autonomy in an easy-to-integrate package.
Along with the OutdoorNav platform, Clearpath also launched the OutdoorNav Developer Partner Program. The program provides qualifying robotics developers with access to discounted software licenses and, if needed, hardware and sensor kits. The company is accepting applications until November 14, 2022.