PreAct adds Gestoos

News 13 Jan 2023 by WCN Editorial

Software-definable flash LiDAR sensor supplier PreAct has acquired an AI algorithm development platform to strengthen its sensor offering for automotive, trucking, robotics and other industrial applications.

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Portland, Oregon-based PreAct Technologies has developed a cost-effective near-field LiDAR sensor that is software-definable for easier integration into autonomous vehicle systems.

PreAct has now acquired Barcelona-based Gestoos, a software company that has developed a unique platform that claims to enable users with no specialised training to quickly generate AI algorithms that address their use cases.

“By marrying a powerful AI algorithm development platform with our best-in-class flash Lidar, we have created a unique environment for our customers to quickly solve difficult use cases. For example, current in-cabin and cargo monitoring solutions were falling well short of delivering the kind of performance OEMs and fleets are looking for. This is a real problem given the changing regulatory environment requiring accurate and stable cabin monitoring,” said Paul Drysch, CEO of PreAct Technologies.

“The Gestoos AI development platform comes pre-integrated with our flash Lidar solution and a development environment making AI training tractable by our customers’ own engineers with minimal hand holding. We are excited to welcome the entire Gestoos team into the PreAct family, and even more excited to provide OEMs with real solutions to their most pressing sensor use case problems,” Drysch added.

PreAct says the Gestoos AI development makes AI development a much simpler process. “One can think of it as a CAD system for AI developers,” PreAct said. “The AI platform can be used to train algorithms for any purpose, with an especially large library classifying gestures, human motion, and multiple combinations of humans and objects interacting. When coupled with PreAct’s flash Lidar, algorithm development tasks that once took specialised teams of experts weeks can now be accomplished in a few hours, revolutionising fields from in-cabin monitoring to automatic door actuation.”

Applications include robotics, AGVs and cargo logistics. Gestoos was previously working with ZF on using computer vision and AI to determine and monitor the height profile of goods loaded inside cargo trailers. Other potential applications include verifying container positions in a container stack or on the ground in the container yard.