www.ciolook.

com

VOL 11
ISSUE 02
2021

1
T
o
p

Innovative
Companies in
Autonomous &
Unmanned
Autonomous
Future
Vehicles, 2021
Light on the Advancements
in Automotive Industry
Speculative
Approach
Moving Forward
Autonomously

R 2C
Inc. Supporting the Warfighter by Providing
the Highest Quality, Responsive Solutions
EDITOR’S NOTE

Shaping the Future

of Autonomous
Vehicles Industry

S
ince the last few years, the autonomous vehicle industry has
been evolving rapidly due to research, development, and
innovative technologies. Information-driven technologies
are playing a vital role in shaping the industry. It is adopting new
technological innovations in its operations significantly. Some
mind-bending technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data
Analytics, Blockchain Technology, Connectivity, Internet of Things,
and Shared mobility are driving the autonomous vehicle industry
to bigger disruptions.

Companies in this industry are tapping the potential of these

technologies for sustaining their competency in the market. They
are contributing to the enhancement of the sector by creating
intelligent, autonomous, and unmanned systems that carry the
potential to revolutionize the industry. Such systems are created
by combining different technologies related to the computer,
communication, control, mechanics, and materials.

Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly the most prominent

technology used by most companies in the autonomous vehicle
industry to develop unmanned autonomous systems. Moreover,
many companies are investing heavily in enhancing the autonomy
and intelligence of the systems to create better autonomous
vehicles. Developing the capacity of intelligent decision-making
using AI technologies in these systems is the most focused area of
research and development teams in these companies. Creating a
system that can make intelligent and situational decisions is the
most significant part of the automotive industry.

The companies in the autonomous vehicle industry focus on

improving the functionality of autonomous vehicles. These
companies endeavor to add additional features in the autonomous systems to enhance the effectiveness
and endurance of autonomous vehicles and increase the safety and comfort of the people inside the
vehicles. The focus of the companies is on creating a lightweight and faster enough autonomous vehicles
for enhancing the human experience. Automating all the vehicles' processes as much as they can is their
primary focus.

Autonomous and unmanned vehicles companies are transforming everyday transportation and are making
public transportation relatively easy, safer, efficient, and time-saving. The development of autonomous and
unmanned vehicles by these companies is improving the safety and efficiency of present transportation
systems. The investment, research, and development efforts by these companies for enhancing the
awareness like that of real-time environments, building intelligent decision-making, control of speed and
direction, and improving the reliability of the unmanned autonomous systems is certainly revolutionary. It
is going to be a more sustainable norm in the future.

In this edition of Top 10 Innovative Companies in Autonomous & Unmanned Vehicles, 2021, we present the
companies that are providing safe, profitable, and efficient mobility solutions.

Let’s have a look!

Sharad Chitalkar
 COVER STORY

08
R2C Inc.
Supporting the Warfighter
by Providing the Highest
Quality, Responsive Solutions

C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
ARTICLES

20 28
Autonomous Speculative
Future Approach
Light on the Advancements Moving Forward
in Automotive Industry Autonomously
 CxO 36
Leader’s Viewpoint
How the Cloud is Helping to
Drive Digital Transformation
in Manufacturing?

16 24
Boeing LeddarTech
Leading with Innovation Making Mobility Safer
and Shared Values and More E icient

32 40
Navya RTSYS
Reshaping the Future of Businesses Enhancing Underwater Acoustic Field
with a Safe, Profitable, and with Unique Technological
E icient Mobility Innovations
 Hitesh Dhamani
Editor-in-Chief
CONTENT
Senior Editor Alan Swann
Executive Editors Sharad Chitalkar
Alex Spellman
DESIGN
Visualizer Dave Bates
Art & Design Director Kartik Balapurkar
Associate Designer Shubham Dali
SALES
Senior Sales Manager Kshitij S.
Customer Success Manager Jack Ryan
Sales Executives John, Saurabh, Irfan
TECHNICAL
Technical Head Aditya K.
Technical Consultant Victor Collins
SME-SMO
Research Analyst Eric Smith
SEO Executive Nikita Khaladkar
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Company Name Featuring Person Brief

Charles Woodburn BAE Systems help customers to stay a step ahead when
BAE Systems protecting people and national security, critical infrastructure
Group Chief
baesystems.com and vital information.
Executive Officer

Steve Nordlund
Boeing Vice President and Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company.
boeing.com General Manager of
Phantom Works

Tabb Firchau
Freefly Systems Freefly Systems is a rapidly growing tech and cinema company
President
freeflysystems.com representing the intersection of art and technology.

LeddarTech Charles Boulanger LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing solutions for

leddartech.com CEO autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems.

Milanion Group Milanion is a leader in the design, development, and

Davinder Dogra
manufacture of autonomous, unmanned land and maritime
milaniongroup.com CEO platforms.

Navya Pierre Lahutte Navya empowers businesses and communities, reshaping their
navya.tech CEO future with a safe, profitable, and efficient mobility.

Otonomo Ben Volkow Otonomo is a provider of a pioneering vehicle data platform

otonomo.io CEO & Founder and marketplace.

Paramount Group Ivor Ichikowitz Paramount Group is a global aerospace and technology
paramountgroup.com Chairman company.

Robert R. Wilson
R2C, Inc.
President and Chief R2C, Inc is a full service Aerospace & Defense Company.
r2c-inc.com
Executive Officer

RTSYS Pierre-Alexandre RTSYS is a specialist in underwater acoustics and Autonomous

rtsys.eu Business Director Underwater Vehicles.
Robert Wilson
Chief Execu ve Officer
and President
R2C, Inc.
 Inc.
Supporting the Warfighter by Providing the
Highest Quality, Responsive Solutions

‘‘
R2C is dedicated to
contributing and having a
positive impact within our
community. We believe that by
reinvesting in the community,
‘‘
we create and foster a better
place to work and live.
 An Accountable Leader at the Helm

The company’s Chief Executive Officer and President,

Mr. Robert Wilson, is a disabled U.S. Army veteran. He
is extraordinarily passionate about supporting the
American Warfighters in defense of their families,
friends, community, nation, and allies. This passion
developed into action as R2C came to fruition through
relationships with employees, business partners, and
customers that gave Mr. Wilson an opportunity to truly
understand the needs of the Warfighter. Mr. Wilson
strives to recruit, retain, and develop a skilled
workforce to meet those needs. By continuing to
provide excellent products and services to its
customers, the ideas and concepts of R2C continue to
flourish beyond even Mr. Wilson’s own expectations.

With his 27 years of experience in the aviation field, Mr.

Wilson provides strategic leadership and oversight for
all aspects of the business, ensuring all laws,
regulations, and other applicable obligations are
observed wherever and whenever business is
conducted on behalf of the company. He formulates
and determines the company’s values, mission, vision,
and short-term and long-term goals.

P
Mr. Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in Professional
assion combined with purpose and service can
Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
achieve transformative results. R2C, Inc. is a
University and is recognized by The International
result of that passion and purpose for Mr. Robert
Society of Logistics as a Demonstrated Master
Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. R2C
Logistician. Additionally, Mr. Wilson is a member of the
provides the highest quality products and services to
DoD Acquisition Corp. and is Level III Certified in
ensure our Warfighters receive the most advanced,
Project Management and Life-Cycle Logistics. Mr.
technologically superior tools to perform their mission
Wilson is a member and supporter of multiple industry
by which they defend our freedom and our way of life.
and professional societies and groups.
With headquarters in Huntsville, AL, R2C is a full-
Meeting the Call of Duty
service aerospace and defense company that truly
focuses on service through their employees, business
R2C’s offerings include but are not limited to
partners, and customers personal and professional
engineering, logistics, manufacturing, and technical
lives.
services. They have been shaped and continue to evolve
over the years based on customer requirements.
R2C is defined by its seven core values: Service,
Professional Competence, Integrity, Trustworthy,
R2C provides an ever-evolving opportunity to provide
Attitude, Loyalty, and Family. The company seeks out
the highest quality products and services to its clients
opportunities through its diverse personal and
to ensure that Warfighters receive the most advanced,
professional roles, and its core values are the
technologically superior tools to perform their mission.
foundation it builds on. It is ready, reliable, and capable
Technology rapidly changes and is critical in the field.
to meet and exceed all customers’ expectations.
The team at R2C understands that and walks alongside
its customers to ensure the company goes above and
Let’s have a look at how it all started.
beyond to meet this call to duty.
Moreover, R2C implemented superior engineering and
logistics practices and processes to seamlessly ensure
low-risk, best-value solutions with a high degree of
collaboration with government customers. It continues
to upgrade hardware and software tools to provide
better processes that drive more efficient workflows.

During the past three years, its innovative solutions

have saved the United States Government and
Taxpayers over $107M. This has been accomplished
due to the excellent personnel the company locates,
hires, trains, and brings their talents to bear at the right
place at the right time.

The Courageous Services

R2C is a company on the move expanding capabilities

to include construction management services and
building information modeling. Great pricing, superior
service, great people, integrated quality and
productivity performance tracking and reporting are
just the beginning. R2C’s total service package will keep
them growing in this space for a long time.

Going Forth and Rising

R2C faces the same challenge as other companies face

in today’s fast-paced, competitive business
environment – keeping pace with and staying one step
ahead of technical capabilities. It is through those
challenges in the initial days the company began to
identify risks and develop solutions to overcome them.
The company continues to envision and create
innovative approaches that increase efficiencies and
optimize technical capabilities that set it apart from the
competitors.

Staying Committed is the Key

‘‘
Mr. Wilson mentions that the pandemic created a
requirement to think outside of the box. Vendors had R2C is a People
challenges with timely supplies due to the impact on
their workforce and turnaround time shipping
Centric Company
materials. that truly focuses
‘‘
Stating the significance of the aviation industry, Mr.
Wilson asserts, “The aviation industry is critical to the
on SERVICE.
defense of our nation and support of our warfighter. R2C is
essential, as are our employees and the jobs they do daily to
support the defense of our nation. We were capable of
strategic business planning and operations to continue
 and partnerships to a veteran, minority, and women
serving institutions. Service being one of its core values,

‘‘ R2C Support the company seeks out opportunities to serve God, the
nation, and communities through the different roles of
Services provides its personal and professional lives. The fact is that the
team at R2C constantly supports the community
direct on-site ‘‘ including other aviation companies.

support to the What Lies Ahead?

USG. "If we are so blessed by our creator to continue to support

America’s Heroes, I have no doubt that R2C will continue to
provide unparalleled solutions and support to America’s
Warfighter around the World,” says Mr. Wilson.

R2C’s strategy in achieving this goal is to work

meeting customer demands and our employees’ alongside its customers to gain a greater understanding
commitment during this crisis.” of necessities to support the defense of the nation,
friends, families, and allies and turn those necessities
A Unique Characteristic into deliverable, high-quality products.

Mr. Wilson further opines that an essential feature for
an aviation vehicle service provider to thrive in this
industry is a workforce with the knowledge and sincere
authenticity for the Warfighters and their friends and
families. R2C’s employees understand, and many have
personally experienced the critical amount of detail and
effort that goes into every component of aviation
vehicle. They know the literal difference between life
and death in the field. This unique characteristic is the
key to success in the aviation vehicle service industry.
In his advice to upcoming entrepreneurs in aviation
industry, Mr. Wilson says, “Success is being able to provide
on-time delivery of high-quality products to our customers
in support of defending our nation and warfighters. The
formula to success is humility and genuine care for our
people. In that, all things are possible.”

Building a Strong Bond that Lasts Lifetime

Mr. Wilson mentions that R2C places tremendous value

in the creation and maintenance of positive work
culture. The company implements a positive work
culture through its core value of family, as its
employees spend almost half of their waking time at
work. Employees at R2C celebrate victories, mourn
losses, and build trust and commitment with each other
to form a team that focuses on supporting America's
Warfighters. This forms a strong bond that lasts a
lifetime.

Serving to the Community

When it comes to giving back to the community, R2C

contributes greatly by providing mentor protégé to
other aviation companies, internships to high school
and college students, resources to charitable causes,
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Steve Nordlund
Vice President and
General Manager of
Phantom Works
The Boeing Company

16
www.ciolook.com | November 2021 |
 Leading with Innovation and Shared Values

I
deas come into fruition when assisted with
innovation that can disrupt the niche with its
relative productivity and performance. Newer
technologies are introduced to the world with each
passing day, and a few of these technologies break the
barrier in the autonomous and unmanned vehicle
industry with their pioneering approach. With the
inclusion of Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning, renowned organizations are intertwining
cognitive potentials to develop vehicles capable of
performing tasks that were once just a mere thought.
Exploring such possibilities, Boeing is creating history
and rooting itself as an early innovative adapter in the
autonomous industry.
Boeing's rich history in aerospace continues to lead in
technology and innovation, deliver for its customers,
and invest in its people and future growth. As an
experienced executive in the aerospace and tech
industry, Steve Nordlund, the Vice President and
General Manager of Phantom Works, oversees
advanced research and development organizations,
developing new businesses, and entering new markets.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing
develops, manufactures, and services commercial
airplanes, defense products, and space systems for
customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S.
exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global
supplier base to advance economic opportunity,
sustainability, and community impact. Boeing's diverse
team is committed to innovating for the future and
living the company's core values of safety, quality, and
integrity.
Describe your top-notch offerings that address the
need of your customers.
With near-peer threats and budget constraints,
customers are looking for affordable solutions that are
effective in increasingly contested environments. The
modular, multi-mission autonomous systems Boeing
has developed provide seabed to space capability for
our customers – with connected sensors and systems
undersea, on the surface, and in the air.
In the air, we have a full range of autonomous systems
offering intelligent, persistent, and efficient solutions

We at CIO LOOK came across Boeing in our expedition

to find " Top 10 Innovative Companies in Autonomous &
Unmanned Vehicles." We got into an insightful
conversation with Steve to know his experience and
methodologies that contribute to making Boeing the
world's largest aerospace company and leading
provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and
security systems, and global services.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Give us a brief overview of your company, its mission,

and the key aspects of its strong foothold in the
aviation industry.
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for a range of customers and missions worldwide. For
example, the MQ-25 unmanned/uncrewed aerial
refueler will be the U.S. Navy's first operational, carrier-
based unmanned aircraft – offering robust refueling
capability and potential for growth as a digitally
designed and developed aircraft.
The Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS) is a new
uncrewed aircraft that will be a force multiplier, using
artificial intelligence as part of a smart human-machine
team with other platforms. With next-gen affordable
stealth capability, ATS can fly with advanced fighters to
see and shoot first. This is true "air power" for 75% less
cost to buy and 90% lower cost to fly. Also, longer range
and more efficient ground attack operations are
enabled with ATS because of a combination of artificial
intelligence and autonomy. An all-digital design and
advanced autonomy allowed us to quickly progress
from firm configuration to first flight in record time. The
result is modularity and flexibility, so we can also
outpace the threats.
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On the sea, long-endurance, autonomous maritime
vehicles offer new ways to gather data and conduct
missions in the ocean and communicate across domains
to deliver actionable intelligence. Our offerings include
products such as Wave Glider, an autonomous surface
platform, and Echo Voyager, a fully autonomous extra-
large unmanned undersea vehicle.
What makes your company a preferred choice among
your clientele over other competitors?
Boeing's autonomous offerings are the digitally
advanced, simply, and efficiently produced, and
intelligently supported products customers need now.
And there's a convergence where these systems aren't
solely used for military missions but could be used for
commercial applications like freight/logistics. We're
building them, testing them under real-world
conditions, and working with our customers to
integrate them into their operations across all domains
now. By using digital engineering, modeling, and
| November 2021 |
 “Boeing has a long tradition of
aerospace leadership and innovation,
and it continues to expand its product
line and services to meet emerging
customer needs.”
simulation, our autonomous solutions can be designed,
assembled, and tested virtually thousands of times
before any metal is ever cut – creating new paradigms
in affordability, efficiency, and quality. As we continue
delivering cutting-edge autonomous technologies and
capabilities, digital engineering ensures we stay ahead
of challenges and take advantage of new opportunities.
From a business leadership perspective, what is your
opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the
aviation sector and the related market?
The pandemic has impacted the aviation sector,
including reduced demand for products and services
and increased supply chain instability. As an industry,
we have faced these challenges head-on and continue
to work closely with our partners and suppliers.
In your opinion, what could be the future of the
aviation market post the COVID-19 pandemic? And
how are you strategizing your company's operations
for that future?
While we still have a way to go before we see a full
rebound, it is encouraging to see the commercial
market improving, enabled by continued vaccine
distribution and an increase in travel demand. Going
forward, we are continuing to monitor case rates,
vaccine distribution, travel protocols, and global trade
as key indicators for recovery.
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In what ways have you or your company contributed
to the community?
Through purposeful investments, employee
engagement, and advocacy efforts, Boeing supports
community partnerships and programs that align with
our business, create value and help build better
communities worldwide. Boeing charitable programs
drive positive, lasting change in the communities where
our employees and their families live and work. We
work to create opportunities that inspire our future,
empower our heroes, and strengthen our homes, with a
focus on advancing racial equity and combating
systemic racism.
What are your future aspirations? Where do you see
your company in the next five years?
Autonomy is at the heart of the future in aerospace and
defense because it expands human capability – through
smarter systems, more efficient operations, and
enhanced safety for our customers. With digital designs
and advanced manufacturing techniques, the sky is no
longer a limit as we continue to grow our portfolio and
capabilities through autonomy. There's also a
convergence where these systems and the technology
behind them aren't limited to military use but could also
be used for commercial applications in certain
scenarios.
| November 2021 |
Light on the ADVANCEMENTS
in AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
T
he acceleration in research, development, and
innovative efforts in the automotive industry in
the past few decades has brought the idea of
driverless vehicles to fruition. The gradual
advancements in the automotive industry are paving
the way for many people to avail autonomous vehicles
with advanced facilities. Autonomous vehicle (AV)
technologies play a significant role in decreasing
transportation costs and increasing accessibility and
affordability to moderately earning families and
especially people with mobility issues. Companies in
the AV industry create vehicles that increase the safety
and comfort of people. The advancements and
innovations in the automotive industry are remarkable
and are easing the lives of people.
Innovative Autonomous vehicle technologies reduce
crashes, accidents, save energy, minimize pollution and
congestion on the road, and increase transport
accessibility. To meet the needs of the aging population,
especially in developed countries, autonomous vehicles
today are a necessity and an important business. More
and more people wanting to avail themselves of time
for their personal tasks are looking positively at the
option of autonomous vehicles as it gives them an
opportunity to do what they want to do instead of
doing what they have to do. Many people like to save
their precious time on repetitive tasks such as driving
so they like to avail autonomous vehicles. Therefore,
there is an increasing shift towards autonomous
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vehicles, which will increase continuously in the future.
The advancements in AV technologies are integrated
with the combination of electrical engineering,
transportation science, evolved software, and robust
hardware. The autonomous and unmanned vehicles
industry companies endeavor to maximize safety and
minimize fuel consumption, road pricing of vehicles,
and minimum land use for parking. Connected vehicle
technology is an essential part of autonomous vehicles.
Real-time communication data result in increased
collaboration for efficient and intelligent path-finding
that saves time and avoids traffic due to choosing the
best possible route. Vehicle navigation is optimal,
sophisticated, and reliable with advanced connected-
vehicle technology. This vehicle navigation model
minimizes the total travel time.
Developed automated highway systems pave the way
for connecting autonomous vehicles to highway
infrastructure. Therefore, having developed automated
highway systems are essential for the smooth
functioning of autonomous vehicles. The level of
automation in autonomous vehicles can vary from zero
percent to complete automation. Autonomous vehicles
are equipped with front and reverse cameras, radars
variety of sensors etc., that obtains information and
data from the surrounding environment. This
information and data serve as an input to the software,
which then suggests a proper course of action and
facilitates key decision-making. Completely automated
| November 2021 |

vehicles are intelligently designed to observe the
roadway conditions and perform driving functions
based on input from various sensors.
Autonomous vehicle technologies will cause more
evolution in the transportation systems in the coming
times. With good transportation systems, autonomous
vehicles can become the norm in the future. This will be
a significant step in mitigating climate change as
autonomous vehicles significantly reduce emission of
carbon dioxide, minimize pollution, and minimize
energy consumption. The advent of unmanned vehicles
is both labor-saving as well as accident-reducing. Such
saved labor can be used in more constructive work,
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Autonomous Future
which can be overall beneficial for the industry and the
nation.
The companies in the autonomous vehicle industry are
investing heavily in innovative technologies for
enhancing the features they can provide for improving
the functionality of autonomous vehicles and
increasing their accessibility and affordability to the
maximum number of people. Autonomous vehicles
using the latest and advanced technologies can provide
mobility to those who cannot physically drive and are
highly beneficial to children and older people.
Considering the benefits of autonomous vehicles, the
future of transportation looks promising.
| November 2021 |
 Charles Boulanger
CEO
LeddarTech Inc

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www.ciolook.com | November 2021 |
 LeddarTech
Making Mobility Safer and More Efficient
I
t was a mission to improve safety and quality of life
for travelers, commuters, workers, and mobility
industry professionals that led to the inception of
LeddarTech Inc. The company is doing this by enabling
applications that reduce traffic congestion, minimize
the risk of road accidents, and improve the overall
efficiency of road transport.
Today, LeddarTech is a global leader in environmental
sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and
advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It has
evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end
environmental sensing company that enables its
customers to solve critical sensing and perception
challenges across the entire value chain of the
automotive and mobility market segments. The
company allows Tier-1/2 automotive system
manufacturers and integrators to develop full-stack
sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5, enhancing
ADAS and autonomous driving (AD) capabilities.
At CIO Look, we got into conversation with Charles
Boulanger, the Chief Executive Officer of LeddarTech,
to know more about the company and how its sensing
solutions are enabling the future of autonomous
driving.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Describe your core offerings that address the need of
your customers.
LeddarTech is responsible for several innovations in
cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote sensing
applications, with over 100 patented technologies
(granted or pending) that are enhancing ADAS and
autonomous driving capabilities. Our sensing and
perception solutions are best represented by our two
core platforms.
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LeddarVision™ is a raw-data sensor fusion and
perception platform that generates a comprehensive
3D environmental model with cost-effective, multi-
sensor support for camera, radar and LiDAR
configurations and that is scalable to support all vehicle
automation levels. LeddarVision solves object-level
fusion deficiencies of camera & radar in ADAS systems
(autonomy levels 2 and 2+) and enables optimized
perception performance for further autonomy (levels 3
to 5) with the fusion of camera, radar & LiDAR sensors.
Our second key offering is a versatile LiDAR
development platform based on the LeddarEngine™,
comprised of LiDAR SoCs and signal processing
software, and LeddarSteer™, a game-changing solid-
state digital beam steering technology. This platform
provides components, software and tools that enable
LiDAR developers and Tier-1/2 manufacturers to
develop automotive-grade LiDAR sensors to the
specific requirements of vehicle OEMs.
These LeddarTech platforms are being deployed
beyond just the automotive market: for example, we
recently announced the integration of our data sensor
fusion and perception platform with Trimble's existing
industry-leading machine control technology to enable
intelligent automation in complex work environments.
Together, our two companies expect to provide an
innovative hardware and software portfolio, improving
autonomous machine performance for a variety of
industries such as agriculture, construction and mining.
What makes your company a preferred choice among
your clientele over other competitors?
Several years ago LeddarTech established the Leddar™
Ecosystem, which is comprised of a select group of
world-class partners, suppliers and collaborators that
support our customers in their development of
| November 2021 |

“We wish to
contribute to
society by
improving mobility
and quality of life.”
automotive sensing solutions for ADAS and AD
applications. In tandem with LeddarTech, the
Ecosystem provides additional technical expertise,
components, software and services leveraging a
hardware-agnostic platform that is open and scalable.
Its members are prequalified for integration with
LeddarTech’s LeddarEngine™ and LeddarVision™
platforms. This Ecosystem maximizes design agility and
reduces development cycle time and costs, leading to a
faster time-to-market for our customers.
From a business leadership perspective, what is your
opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the
automotive sector and the related market?
The pandemic initially slowed things down on the
autonomous vehicle initiatives side and slightly
affected some aspects of ADAS development. However,
it rapidly became clear that consumers are prepared to
pay more for vehicles with advanced features that
increase safety and efficiency, add comfort and improve
their quality of life.
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Society has become more sensitive to these factors,
and mobility is at the center of it all. People want more
flexibility and freedom, and these requirements
influence the way they buy a car. This will be a big
incentive for automotive OEMs to offer new, more
advanced features as people become more receptive to
new paradigms towards more efficient, autonomous
vehicles. Today we are seeing trends in technology that,
in the end, will have positive impacts on the industry
despite the pandemic.
In your opinion, what could be the future of the
automotive market post the COVID-19 pandemic?
And how are you strategizing your company’s
operations for that future?
The automotive industry has entered its most
significant evolution of the last 100 years due to
innovations in technology and software. Cars today are
essentially “data on wheels”, increasingly software-
defined and silicone-intensive, with features that
evolve rapidly to integrate advances in technology.
LeddarTech is very well positioned for this phase
because we enable unique software-based sensing and
perception solutions that provide the necessary
flexibility to scale and adapt the hardware for the
evolution of ADAS and for the gradual progression
towards autonomous vehicles.
In what ways have you or your company contributed
to the community?
LeddarTech’s mission is to improve the safety and
quality of life for travelers, commuters, workers and
mobility industry professionals by enabling applications
that reduce traffic congestion, which leads to lower
CO2 emissions, minimizes the risk of road accidents
and improves the overall efficiency of transport.
| November 2021 |
Each LeddarTech employee is aware of this higher
purpose and comes to work every day with the
motivation to develop and enable new technologies
that will ultimately benefit their community and the
world at large.

Our company and our employees are also involved

more directly in helping our local communities. For
example, LeddarTech has a long-standing commitment
with the United Way (called “Centraide” in Quebec). We
have raised tens of thousands of dollars to help support
local community agencies and organizations that fight
poverty and social inequities. The global pandemic shed
new light on the critical work accomplished by such
local organizations and we are proud of our continued
commitment as we enter 2022.

What are your future aspirations? Where do you see

your company in the next five years?

We have positioned ourselves in a particular leadership

role in enabling mass deployment of ADAS and AD by
enabling LiDAR makers, Tier 1s and OEMs to reduce
the complexity, time and cost of implementing such
solutions that meet both customers and regulatory
requirements. We intend to relentlessly pursue this
endeavor in line with our corporate mission.

Exemplifying Excellence
“Early in 2017, OSRAM recognized LeddarTech’s promising
technological LiDAR approach based on unique software
and hardware components and therefore invested $70
million to become a major shareholder. Since then, we have
committed over $70 million more on developing LiDAR
products, which has allowed OSRAM to offer LiDAR
solutions to Tier 1s and OEMs that meet their cost and
performance requirements for mass deployment.”
-Dr Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM Licht AG
"Trimble has been connecting the physical and digital
worlds with our best-in-class automation technologies for
more than 20 years—whether it is in agriculture,
construction or mining. We see the demand for operator
assistance, autonomous machines and workflow
optimization accelerating dramatically and alliances such
as this are a critical part of how we will bring added value to
our customers in all levels of autonomy.” -Finlay Wood,
business area director for Trimble's Autonomous
Solutions Division
“Omni Design is delivering high-performance data
converters in advanced process nodes to enable the next
generation of products in automotive, 5G and AI markets.
We are pleased to be collaborating with LeddarTech on
their next-generation LiDAR SoC to enable mass
deployment of solid-state LiDAR in the automotive market
by automotive Tier 1s and other LiDAR makers.”- Dr. Kush
Gulati, President and CEO of Omni Design
Technologies

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Speculative Approach
Moving Forward
Autonomously
S
ometimes I get up wondering how fascinating it is
the way we as the human race have progressed.
That’s the power of innovation and technology; it
has kept us moving forward in all the stages of life. In
fact, today, it has become the reason to survive in this
competitive world. There are a lot of examples proving
this fact. From manual labor to innovative and cost-
effective solutions, today, everything is connected with
technology. The autonomous industry is another good
example of it. With the invention of autonomous
vehicles, life has become much easier because of its
driverless driving option and many more.
There is no industry where autonomous solutions have
not impacted, be it agriculture, retail, manufacturing,
logistics, or mining; they are at the forefront of the
technology. But exactly how, autonomous vehicles will
be a game-changer in the coming years? Let us see
through this article.
Survival of the Fittest
There are complex problems where autonomous
solutions are proving helpful with unmanned aerial
vehicles, service robots, space and marine robots, and
agriculture and mining. With its sensing technology, it
provides real-time information having a good
understanding of the scenario. The range of
autonomous vehicles is designed for moving goods,
including cargo vans.
Recently we saw the impact of the coronavirus all over
the world, and autonomous vehicles proved to be useful
in the transportation of medical supplies, reducing the
spread of coronavirus. This shows that the automation
solutions are built future-ready to deal with such
unprecedented challenges.
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The main goal of the human race is to continuously
improve the quality of life, and autonomous vehicles
are the perfect fit to achieve that goal. The autonomous
vehicle industry is positioned to improve the safety and
quality of life for everyone, along with improving the
effectiveness of the transport industry.
Moreover, the solutions offered by companies in the
industry are environment-friendly. All the things
combined together take us to the autonomous way.
With a proper understanding of the autonomous
sector, companies can bring the transformation the
world needs today.
Be on Your Side
These are reasons enough to prove that how
autonomous industry and its solutions will be a game-
changer in the future. It is very much possible to use
this autonomous technology as it ticks every industry
box, making it possible to develop innovative solutions.
These systems offer a wide range of solutions, which
means it has the answer to all the possible challenges of
the industry. However, there is still a long way to go to
connect us with the autonomous world. And, the
industry looks excited to see what the autonomous
industry has to offer. It will change the face of the
automobile sector.
Some critics say that in the near future, autonomous
vehicles might surpass human abilities. However, the
benefits it offers are much more than the flaws. This is
the platform that will ultimately serve a lot of people
and bring a bigger change to the world.
| November 2021 |
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Pierre Lahu e
Chief Execu ve Officer
NAVYA

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Reshaping the Future of Businesses with
a Safe, Profitable, and Efficient Mobility
T
oday, cities, airports, and industrial sites are
facing challenges in traffic conditions, costs,
safety, and productivity. In addition, private sites
are also facing mobility difficulties and are confronted
with urban transport ecosystem and economic, social,
and environmental challenges. It has become crucial to
find solutions to all these challenges.
A shift from personal vehicles to self-driving vehicles
seems to solve these dilemmas, as they optimize
transport time and traveling conditions. Self-driving
vehicles can reduce carbon footprint, parking problems,
and labor-intensive tasks, enhance company image,
productivity, and site safety, and explores logistics
models for tomorrow.
Making self-driving solutions a reality- Navya is
reinventing the transportation systems of tomorrow.
Navya is the leading name in the supply of autonomous
driving systems and associated services. The company
is reshaping the transportation systems, for passengers
and goods.
We, at CIO Look, caught up with Pierre Lahutte, Chief
Executive Officer of Navya to know more about the
company and how it is empowering businesses and
communities with its self-driving solutions
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Give us a brief overview of your company, its mission,
and the key aspects of its strong foothold in the
automotive industry.
Created in 2014, Navya is a leading name specialized in
the supply of autonomous driving systems and
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associated services. With 280 employees in France, the
United States, and Singapore, Navya aims to become
the leading player in level 4 autonomous driving
systems for passenger and goods transport.
Since 2015, Navya autonomous mobility solutions have
been first to market and first to on-road service. The
Autonom® Shuttle, the main development platform, is
dedicated to passenger transport. Since its launch,
more than 180 units have been sold in 23 countries, as
of 31 December 2020. The Autonom® Tract is
designed for goods transport.
Describe your top-notch offerings that address the
need of your customers.
For passengers’ transportation, we provide:
Ÿ The Autonom® shuttle launched in 2015. It is our
main company product. It is Electric, Shared, and
Autonomous. It carries up to 15 passengers and
drives at a maximum of 18km/h in operation. It has a
9 hours average run time, and no heavy
infrastructure is needed. It improves the
transportation systems for cities and private sites.
Ÿ The Autonom® shuttle EVO launched in 2020. EVO
is for the Evolution of our Autonom® Shuttle, the
outcome of six years of experimentation and nearly
200 Navya deployments around the world.
For Goods transport, we provide the Autonom® Tract.
Navya has partnered with Charlatte Manutention,
Group Fayat’s subsidiary dedicated to electric and fuel
handling equipment for airports and industry, to create
an autonomous tractor solution in order to improve
logistics flows for airports and industrial sites. First
proof of concepts in 2020-21. Commercialization in
| November 2021 |
2022. These 3 platforms work the same way thanks to:
Ÿ Navya’s in-house advanced intelligent software:
Navya Drive®
Ÿ Combined with our specific multi-sensors
architecture.
Navya’s solutions are actually Level3 on the SAE scale.
Our ambition is to reach level4 for all our platforms. We
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also adapt the Navya Drive® on any drive-by-wire
vehicle platform manufactured by a third-party. Finally,
we also offer a full range of value-added services:
Ÿ Commissioning and mapping
Ÿ Supervision and fleet monitoring platform
Ÿ Technical support
Ÿ Maintenance
Ÿ Training
What makes your company a preferred choice among
your clientele over other competitors?
With dozens of thousand kilometers driven every
month worldwide in different use cases, a specific
environment, constraints, and regulation frameworks
enable Navya to progress constantly and quickly.
These signs of progress are regularly injected in our
Navya Drive® software, and enable our customers
worldwide to also demonstrate constant progress in
their operations.
Besides, Navya has won the "Best Endurance &
Reliability" and "Best Consumer Experience", two out of
three of the best awards at the Dubai World Challenge
for Self-Driving Transport organized by the Dubai Road
and Transport Authority (RTA) (October 2019).
| November 2021 |
What are the achievements you are proud of?
NAVYA won the "Best Endurance & Reliability" and
"Best Consumer Experience" awards at the Dubai
World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport organized
by the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA)
(October 2019).
Ÿ We took a new step in autonomous mobility with
the first fully autonomous level 4 operation on a
closed site in Châteauroux, France (June 2020).
Ÿ World first: an autonomous luggage vehicle, named
Autonom® Tract, transports goods in real
conditions (2019).
Ÿ 7.5 million euros of subsidies will be received within
the framework of the France Reliance program, for
four of Navya’s technological projects.
From a business leadership perspective, what is your
opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the
automotive sector and the related market?
The Covid-19 pandemic has hampered the mobility
sector, especially on long-distance journeys with a
strong local rebound and a focus even more important
on CO2 and gas emissions.
By being shared, electric, self-driving, and on-demand,
our solutions are an answer to mobility
decarbonization. They are also a solution for first and
last-mile distances.
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In your opinion, what could be the future of the
automotive market post the COVID-19 pandemic?
And how are you strategizing your company’s
operations for that future?
The future of the automotive market will be electric,
shared, autonomous; solutions that Navya is already
providing through its shuttles and keeps working on
improving it.
In what ways have you or your company contributed
to the community?
The autonomous vehicle has several advantages:
reduction in pollution, lower transport cost for
operators and municipalities, greater services,
reduction of accidents, inclusive transport for
communities not well served by public transportation,
reduction of parking spaces in the city centre, etc. The
VA also makes it possible to fluidify traffic, to relieve
congestion in cities by reducing traffic jams.
What are your future aspirations? Where do you see
your company in the next five years?
All studies tend to demonstrate that the first use cases
for large AV fleets deployments will be for shared
transportation on sites with simple Level 4 driving
cases and a stable environment at limited speed. With
that in mind, we firmly believe that Navya will be a key
player in the future of transportation.
‘‘ The focus needs to
be put on
environmental
preservation,
decongestion of
cities, reduction of
pollution,
optimization of
‘‘
spaces, etc.
| November 2021 |
Sung Kim
CTO
iBASEt

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How the Cloud Is Helping to
Drive Digital Transformation
in Manufacturing?
C
loud technology is helping to drive Industry 4.0
transformation in many ways. It can offload data
center costs, ease systems integration, and
provide a cost-effective approach to scaling resources
and infrastructure requirements. Interestingly, there
has been a new benefit that is gaining more attention as
we emerge to a “post-COVID” world. When some or all
of your company’s workforce is working remotely
supporting customers working from anywhere, the
importance of your software being hosted in a local
datacenter matters less – keeping everything else at
par.
Of course, maintaining application updates, managing
role-based access, and maintaining data integrity
remain of utmost importance. Provided these
maintenance tasks can continue to be provided
acceptably, the concept of what it means to “locally”
host your systems infrastructure becomes less of a
concern. The definition of “local” has forever changed.
The New World of Anywhere Working
This shift in defining local work could be classified as
one of the unexpected outcomes of going through a
global pandemic. Industry research supports this shift,
showing that 94% of all enterprises already use a Cloud
service in some form. New investment in this
technology only further reinforces this trend is not
slowing down.
But it’s not all about technology. Cloud solutions are
also addressing the most traditional of concerns:
staffing and workers. Today, there are millions of
manufacturing jobs that cannot be filled, and many of
those positions will likely remain unfilled. A recent
study of 800 U.S.-based manufacturers concluded that
these missing jobs could cost manufacturers $1 trillion
by 2030.
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Leader’s Viewpoint
At the same time, there has been a huge upswing in
people working remotely. This trend was already
underway before the pandemic, and it has only
accelerated in the last two years. Across all industries,
including manufacturing, we are now becoming
accustomed to “work anywhere” operations.
The Cloud is a key technology enabler behind these
trends. It augments human processes so that people
can get more done with less effort. It helps
manufacturers maintain--or even improve--their
productivity when faced with a long-term staffing
shortage.
Empowering Remote Workers
Gartner has forecast that 51% of global knowledge
workers will be remote by the end of 2021 – or more
than half! This ranges from individual professionals
working in their home offices to administrative teams
from different locations monitoring servers and
responding to increases and decreases in bandwidth
and usage.
The trend is not limited to classic white-collar workers,
either. It’s estimated that 32% of all employees
worldwide will soon be working remotely, and this will
include work that traditionally has required an on-site
presence. For example, a forklift driver with Cloud-
enabled technology such as a VR headset and remote
controls can now operate at multiple warehouses while
working from home or a regional office. One skilled
driver could work the morning in Asia and the
afternoon in North America as the company requires,
or even change locations several times an hour.
The Cloud has emerged as a great option to support
this kind of systems infrastructure to provide this kind
of global accessibility. It allows everyone with an
| November 2021 |
internet connection to participate in this new work
environment. Applications can be readily accessed from
anywhere while scaling quickly and easily, whenever
needed. The pandemic has shown us that you never
know what your business’s needs will look like a year
from now, so the ability to quickly adapt to change is
imperative.
Attracting the Best Talent
Throughout the next decade, it will be harder than ever
for manufacturers to find skilled people at all levels. It
may be especially hard to find the workforce you need
to successfully implement your digital transformation
strategy.
How do you attract the people you want? Supporting
remote workers is one way, and is fast becoming a
requirement. What about on-site workers? No amount
of automation will ever fully eliminate the need for
some people to be on-site, so the cloud is just as
important here, too. For example, Augmented Reality
(AR) is best deployed in multiple factories via the Cloud
because the application is so data-intensive. A private
network with central storage will struggle to support
the kind of bandwidth required. An edge computing
environment that leverages the Cloud can easily
support AR anywhere, along with providing local
processing and data availability in real-time to both
remote and on-site employees.
Those entering the workforce today were born into a
technological world. They’re going to expect the best
technology when they go to work, wherever that work
is.
Cloud Security
One reason that Cloud usage is growing so rapidly is
the acceptance by companies that it is a secure
platform for enterprise applications, even for
manufacturers operating in highly regulated and
compliance-driven industries. The top Cloud providers
have advanced and layered security procedures that
are continuously updated to prevent, detect, and
respond to security threats. Furthermore, systems
based in the Cloud are unlikely to be affected, at least
for long, by physical threats such as natural disasters.
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The fact is, Cloud solutions are often more reliable and
secure than traditional in-house settings.
However, manufacturers should still vet their Cloud
provider to ensure that robust security systems and
procedures are in place. And critically, each enterprise
must secure its networks and systems, especially in an
organization with remote and far-flung operations.
Your Cloud provider can only protect the data it
receives; it is no replacement for internal, end-to-end
security.
The New Workplace
By 2025, it’s predicted that manufacturers will have
reduced their operational costs by 25%, combining
automation technologies with redesigned operational
processes enabled by the Cloud. Much of this will have
to do with making people more productive. It won’t only
be about improving the way people work now, which is
how we tend to think of technology. It will also be about
changing the relationship between the organization
and the people who work for it, and what it even means
to work.
Many factors are driving digital transformation, but in
the coming years, a lot will depend on how well
manufacturers can create a new kind of workplace that
is more mobile, more agile, and more productive than
ever before. And they’ll need to make extensive use of
the Cloud to do it.
About the Author
Sung is an experienced technology architect
and a published computer scientist. During his
tenure at iBASEt, Sung played a key role in
enhancing Solumina’s technology and
exploring architecture experiments for future
product directions. As the Chief Technology
Officer, Sung leads iBASEt’s long-term
technology vision and is responsible for the
overall product architecture and
infrastructure deployment profiles, focusing
on open standards and integration
technologies
| November 2021 |
 Pierre-Alexandre CAUX
Business Director
Rtsys

Enhancing Underwater Acoustic Field with

Unique Technological Innovations

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F
ounded in 2010, RTSYS is a French company
specializing in underwater acoustics (passive and
active) and autonomous underwater vehicles.
The company is part of the SEAFIN group, which has
more than 30 years of experience in supplying
equipment for the maritime and naval industry.
Located near the ocean, RTSYS has a sea trial base and
two boats, allowing complete independence for in-situ
tests and customer demonstrations. Focused on
technology, the company employs forty (40) people,
including more than twenty (20) qualified engineers
and PhD.
scientific applications to perform a wide range of
missions, from bathymetry and seabed surveys to
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) detection.
Ÿ ASW: Anti-Submarine Warfare
RTsys is a world leader in the design and manufacture
of autonomous targets dedicated to sonar operator
training, multi ASW asset training, and torpedo firing
exercises.
RTsys expertise is also well known for its capabilities in
acoustic system performance’s Check & Measurement.

With its network of distributors and a permanent office Ÿ MCM: Mine-Counter Measures
based in Singapore, RTsys’ international presence now
represents more than 80% of its turnover.

We at CIO Look caught up with Pierre-Alexandre

CAUX , the Business Director of RTsys, to learn more
about the company and its contribution to enhancing
the underwater acoustic field.

The Prime Business Sectors

RTsys is continuously enhancing the underwater
acoustic field because of its unique technological
innovations and constant R&D investments. This high
level of expertise is now recognized in the four
following sectors of innovation: PAM (Passive Acoustic
Monitoring), Underwater Exploration with AUV
(Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), ASW (Anti-
Submarine Warfare), and MCM (Mine-Counter
Measures).

RTSYS is growing steadily and now relies on these four

business sectors.

Ÿ PAM: Passive Acoustic Monitoring

RTSYS is a world leader in underwater multiparameters

buoys and acoustic recorders dedicated mainly to
science and renewable industry.

RTSYS PAM solutions obtain valuable data on

underwater areas, either by real-time assessment or
post-processing analysis in both acoustics and multi
parameters monitoring.

Ÿ AUV: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

RTsys Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are

the best turnkey solutions for military, commercial and

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 RTSYS provides to EOD Divers and Special Forces a
complete range of AUVs and diver-held navigation and
“RTSYS is a specialist sonar systems for mine localization, detection,
classification, and neutralization.
in underwater
The RTSYS range has been upgrading divers’efficiency
and safety during MCM Operations worldwide.
acoustics and
Developing Innovative Solutions
Autonomous Pierre-Alexandre Caux mentions that acoustic
monitoring devices have been an important activity
Underwater Vehicles since the company's creation (buoys, recorders),
however a decade of R&D linked to a close
collaboration continuously maintained with the French
(AUV). Our products Navy have also enabled the development of innovative
solutions for operator’s training in anti-submarine
are based on RTsys warfare (ASW) and handheld sonar systems for EOD
divers and special forces (MCM).
innovation and Finally, a complete range of light AUVs, easy to deploy
by one or two people complete the range and have been
partnership with successfully used worldwide for both applications: civil
(universities, EMR, and offshore O&G) and Defense.
renowned research
These high added value products offered new
laboratories.” opportunities and markets. Nowadays, RTsys products
are field-proven equipment validated by a significant
number of leading Navies internationally.

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Providing Trustworthy Technology-based Solutions
According to Pierre-Alexandre, customers trust RTsys’
technology-based solutions on real-time tracking and
live repositioning, giving its AUVs accuracy at less than
5m constant, independent of the distance covered.
Dealing with Challenges with Forethought
Talking about the impact of the pandemic, Pierre-
Alexandre states that it is significant on the automotive
sector and related market as most of the end-users
(both in civil and defense) want to see a live
demonstration before investing in AUVs. And the global
lockdown put on hold many actions in process for
almost two years. Hopefully the wide network of RTsys’
distributors assisted very much to stay in contact
locally with each prospects and customers.
In terms of current supplies, RTsys sees a major issue to
get electronic supplies mainly. Hopefully, RTsys
anticipated as much as possible by having stock.
As far as Pierre-Alexandre is concerned, the future of
automotive does not seem to be in link with the Covid-
19 pandemic. In his opinion, important technological
milestones are not related to the pandemic, but mainly
on AUV data enhancement like ATR (Automatic
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Recognition Target), Swarm capabilities, and more
compact vehicles, with controlled costs of investment.
Also to notice that RTsys is really proud because some
of its employees working in its engineering team have
helped in the design and manufacture of a respirator
dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 and adapted
to the needs of resuscitators !
Being in Capacity of Absorbing the Growth
RTsys is a fast-growing company, with a turnover
increase of more than 20% every year. With its own
investments and willingness to strengthen its position
as one of the world leaders in underwater acoustics and
drones, the company expects to continue its growth
within the next 5 years.
The move to a new facility of 1350m² confirms the
willingness of RTsys to be in capacity of absorbing the
growth, in terms of both, increase in manufacture and
number of employees.
| November 2021 |