A pilot program to characterize and assess lidar sensors to improve performance and safety of autonomous vehicles has been announced by Leti, a research institute at CEA Tech, Transdev, a global provider of mobility services, and IRT Nanoelec, an R&D center focused on information and communication technologies using micro- and nanoelectronics. In the pilot program, Leti teams will focus on perception requirements and challenges from a lidar system perspective and evaluate the sensors in real-world conditions. Vehicles will be exposed to objects with varying reflectivity, such as tires and street signs, as well as environmental conditions, such as weather, available light and fog. In addition to evaluating the sensors’ performance, the project will produce a list of criteria and objective parameters by which various commercial lidar systems could be evaluated. Evaluating sensor effectiveness and robustness is critical to Transdev's development of its Autonomous Transport System, which is intended to allow the safe and secure operation of autonomous vehicles in a wide variety of conditions.