Testing and researching connected and automated vehicles

Sub Zero North

Thompson, MB

Research, test facilities and test beds

Sub Zero North is a testing facility in Thompson, Manitoba that specializes in cold weather and winter testing. The facility tests a wide range of vehicle types, including heavy equipment, cars, and buses and can help with advanced technology testing including existing fiberoptic cable connections.

Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI)

Saint-Jérôme and Montréal, QC

Research, test facilities and test beds

The Innovative Vehicle Institute (IVI) operates out of 2 testing facilities in Jérôme and Montréal, Québec. The Institute was founded in 2015 and helps conduct applied research as well as design and integrate vehicle technologies to promote innovation. IVI specializes in the testing of electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles and is equipped with a variety of technology for testing powertrains, and subsystems of electric, hybrid and fuel-cell powered vehicles.

16th Avenue V2I Test Bed

Calgary, AB

Research, test facilities and test beds

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The City of Calgary has installed connected vehicle equipment at 16 signalized intersections along 16th Avenue North. This number includes one test location and one lab location. On-board equipment was tested and installed in several city emergency vehicles during the spring of 2020. The 16th Avenue implementation will be used as a test bed, allowing the city to carefully test many applications of this technology.

Autonomous Vehicle Research and Intelligence Laboratory (AVRIL)

Waterloo, ON

Research, test facilities and test beds

AVRIL is a shared research workspace at the University of Waterloo dedicated to advancing connectivity and autonomous vehicle technology. The facility's research activities include automated driving, connected vehicles (V2X), and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The laboratory hosts the following equipment and facilities:

• 10 truck height work bays
• 5G connectivity
• driving simulator
• level 2 electric vehicle charger

The facility has 10 test vehicles, including driverless shuttles, autonomous field platforms, passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and transport trucks.

Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate Program at McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (CERC@MARC)

Hamilton, ON

Research, test facilities and test beds

CERC@MARC is a research program at McMaster University focused on electrification and smart mobility. Areas of research include electric and hybrid vehicles, autonomous vehicles, V2X systems, embedded software and controls, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), artificial intelligence and machine learning, and driving simulations.

Driving Research in Virtual Environments (DRiVE) Lab

Guelph, ON

Research and test facilities

The University of Guelph's DRiVE lab is looking for ways to reduce collisions by investigating factors that affect crash risk. The facility uses a simulator made up of a complete car body surrounded by viewing screens that provide a 300 wrap-around virtual environment. The simulator also includes a variety of physical feedback systems that provide drivers with the sights, sounds, and some of the sensations of driving. The simulator is used to study the impact of in-vehicle technologies, including partial automation.

Navya Montréal Pilot Project - COMPLETED

Montréal, QC

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

En 2021 et en 2022, une expérimentation de deux minibus autonomes a eu lieu dans l'arrondissement de Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, à Montréal, où deux navettes du fabricant français NAVYA ont été exploitées par Keolis Canada Innovation, S.E.C. Ce projet, encadré par la Ville de Montréal, a été déployé en deux phases. La première phase d'expérimentation a débuté le 28 octobre 2021 jusqu'au 10 décembre 2021. La deuxième phase a eu lieu du 27 juillet 2022 au 1er septembre 2022. Les navettes ont emprunté un trajet sur une boucle d'environ deux kilomètres sur les rues Saint-Hubert et Saint-André, entre les rues Jean-Talon Est et Beaubien Est. Le service des navettes était gratuit et offert du mercredi au dimanche. Le projet a pris fin le 1er septembre 2022.

Marches Golf Course Trial - COMPLETED

Ottawa, ON

Trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The Marches Golf Course Autonomous Shuttle trial operated for 3 days in August 2019. The trial used 2 Aurrigo shuttles along a paved path with no traffic. During the trial, the vehicle operated at a maximum speed 12km per hour with Transport Canada employees acting as passengers. The vehicle operated at SAE Level 4 autonomy. The trial helped improve our understanding of passenger safety perception, trust, and acceptance when interacting with automated shuttles.

Tunney's Pasture Autonomous Shuttle Trial - COMPLETED

Ottawa, ON

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The Tunney's Pasture Autonomous Shuttle Trial ran for 10 days in November 2020. The project consisted of 2 EasyMile shuttles operated on public roads with mixed traffic. The shuttle operated at SAE Level 4 autonomy and was open to members of the public. The maximum speed of 15km per hour. The goals of the trial were:

• gain insight into the planning and approvals processes for autonomous vehicle testing on Canadian roads
• assess the performance of low-speed automated shuttles operating in various conditions in a real-world environment
• inform Transport Canada's approach to low-speed automated shuttles, including supporting the development of guidance documents for testing CAV technology

This project was a collaboration between several groups, including Area X.O operated by Invest Ottawa, Transport Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the City of Ottawa, EasyMile, and the National Research Council of Canada. The trial helped further understanding of passenger safety perception, trust, and acceptance when interacting with automated shuttles.

Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Cooperative Truck Platooning System (CTPS) Trials - COMPLETED

Airdrie and Leduc, AB

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The Cooperative Truck Platooning System trials demonstrated 2 heavy duty vehicles equipped with SAE Level 2 lane centering and adaptive cruise control technologies. The vehicles platooned in a “road train” formation and the trucks traveled at 3, 4, or 5-second intervals. The trials evaluated fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic interactions, and the driver's experience.

The trial was partly funded by Transport Canada and was the first in Canada to demonstrate Level 2 driving automation on public roads.

Gatik's Autonomous Delivery Fleet

Greater Toronto Area, ON

Public road operations

In partnership with Loblaws, Gatik delivers goods in light duty vehicles on 5 routes across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In 2022, Gatik launched Canada's first driver-out delivery service, moving goods between a Real Canadian Superstore and Loblaw's headquarters in Brampton.

Toronto's Rouge Hill Automated Shuttle Trial- COMPLETED

Scarborough, ON

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The West Rouge Automated Shuttle Trial was conducted in fall 2021, and was a collaboration between the City of Toronto, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Metrolinx. The trial used the Local Motors Olli 2.0 shuttle, which operated on a 4km route with 7 fixed stops. The goal was to test a low-speed, electric, automated shuttle vehicle that would connect Rouge Hill GO Station to destinations in the West Rouge community in south-east Scarborough. The trial was an opportunity to:

• learn how a small neighbourhood shuttle might serve to connect residents to rapid transit, and
• understand the procurement and planning considerations for automated vehicle technology

The trial was funded by a contribution from Transport Canada through the Program to Advance Connectivity and Automation in the Transportation System (ACATS), as well as funding from the City of Toronto, TTC and Metrolinx.

Montreal's Olympic Park Automated Shuttle Pilot- COMPLETED

4141 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave., Montréal, QC, H1V 3N7

Trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

Transdev is using Olympic Park in Montreal as a location for a few automated shuttle pilots. The pilots have tested numerous automated shuttles on a pre-programmed route at the Park and surrounding areas. To date, thousands of passengers have been able to experience these shuttles through these pilots.

Montréal, QC

Transdev is using Olympic Park in Montreal as a location for a few automated shuttle pilots. The pilots have tested numerous automated shuttles on a pre-programmed route at the Park and surrounding areas. To date, thousands of passengers have been able to experience these shuttles through these pilots.

Motor Vehicle Test Centre (MVTC)

Blainville, QC

Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Test Centre, which is operated by PMG Technologies, tests vehicles to make sure they follow Canadian safety standards. The centre also does research to help develop new standards.

The centre includes:

• a structural test lab
• environmental chambers
• a crash lab
• a pedestrian lab
• approximately 25 kilometres of test track

The centre does regular tests on connected and partially automated vehicles (levels 1 and 2), as well as truck platooning.

ENCQOR (Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Quebec and Ontario for Research and Innovation)

Windsor, ON to Quebec City, QC

The Governments of Canada, Ontario, Quebec and five major technology companies partnered to create Canada’s first pre-commercial 5G wireless corridor between Windsor and Quebec City. Small and medium-sized companies, researchers and academics will be able to use the 5G network to develop and test their products. With potential speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second and ultra-low latencies of milliseconds, 5G could be critical to a new generation of products and services, including connected and automated vehicles.

General Motors Canada Markham Technical Center

Markham, ON

General Motors' Markham Technical Center focuses on the development of GM automated vehicle technologies:

• automated vehicle software and controls
• active safety
• vehicle dynamics technology
• infotainment and connected vehicle technology

These are vital areas for the development of connected, automated and shared vehicles and mobility systems.

Ford Motor Co. Connectivity and Innovation Centre in Kanata

Kanata, ON

With the help of the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, Ford Motor Co. established a research and development centre in Kanata to advance connected and automated vehicle technology.

National Research Council Canada Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub research facility

London, ON

This National Research Council of Canada Manufacturing and Automotive Innovation Hub is part of the National Region's Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre. The open space helps Canadian car makers use advanced manufacturing approaches, including:

• mass customization
• process industrialization
• data-driven factory automation
• manufacturing with new materials
• other new vehicle technologies

The space will develop new ways to enable digital factories (“Industry 4.0”) that will produce technologies like connected and automated vehicles.

NAVYA Candiac Shuttle Pilot - COMPLETED

Candiac, QC

Keolis Canada partnered with the City of Candiac to launch the first long-term demonstration of an automated electric shuttle on public roads in Canada. The shuttle will complement existing public transit services in Candiac. The project began in October 2018.

ELA Pilot Project - COMPLETED

Edmonton,
Calgary, Wetaskiwin and Beaumont, AB

Vancouver and Surrey, BC

ELA was the first electric and automated shuttle open to the public in Canada. It can carry up to 12 passengers, and works on existing roadways with no additional equipment or upgrades needed.

The pilot project’s goal is to:

1. Introduce ELA to the public
2. Make the Alberta Transportation industry technology leaders
3. Increase research opportunities for academia and industry
4. Engage with the community

Since September 2018, the project team has shown ELA to audiences in several locations in Alberta and British Columbia including:

• A route between the Calgary Zoo and TELUS Spark Centre in Calgary
• Five locations in Edmonton
• The Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin
• A route alongside one of the most used walking paths in Beaumont
• The Surrey Civic Plaza in Surrey
• The Olympic Village in Vancouver

As of July 2019, over 11,000 passengers have taken trips with ELA.

ACTIVE

Edmonton, AB

The three on-road Alberta Co-operative Transportation Infrastructure and Vehicular Environment (ACTIVE) test beds are located on Whitemud Drive, 23 Avenue, and Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton.

Research on these test beds will look at how connected vehicle technology can help:

• make transportation safer
• manage traffic demand
• increase capacity and smooth traffic flow on busy roads

The ACTIVE-AURORA project is made up of four test beds and two laboratory test environments. ACTIVE is the Edmonton component and AURORA is the Vancouver component.

AURORA

Vancouver, BC

This on-road Automotive Test Bed for Reconfigurable and Optimized Radio Access (or "AURORA") will develop, test, demo and commercialize innovations in Vancouver. Its focus is wireless communications for freight security and efficiency.

The ACTIVE-AURORA project is made up of four test beds and two laboratory test environments. ACTIVE is the Edmonton component and AURORA is the Vancouver component.

Uber Advanced Technologies Group Toronto

Toronto, ON

Uber is conducting a research and development program focused on automated vehicle technologies at its Toronto facilities.

Kanata Autonomous Vehicle Cluster – led by Blackberry QNX

Kanata, ON

Research, test facilities and test beds

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

There are over 70 companies in Ottawa working on automated vehicle technologies, led by BlackBerry QNX. These companies share their expertise, technology and intelligence to help Canada develop connected and automated vehicles. Ottawa is the first Canadian city to test an automated vehicle that communicates live with city infrastructure on a public road.

Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) at the University of Waterloo

Waterloo, ON

Research, test facilities and test beds

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

The Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR) at the University of Waterloo does advanced research to further automotive innovation and competitiveness. With five major areas of expertise, WatCAR’s 125 faculty researchers are leading the largest university-based automotive activity in the countryWatCAR is also a partner of theOntario Vehicle Innovation Network’s Waterloo Regional Technology Development Site.

Working with other partners at the University of Waterloo, including the Waterloo Intelligent systems Engineering Laboratory (WISE Lab) and Waterloo Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory (WAVE Lab, now the TRAIL Lab at the University of Toronto), WatCAR created the Autonomoose self-driving research platform. The vehicle completed its first automated drive on public roads in the city of Waterloo in December 2017, and a second 100km drive in August 2018.

Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Oshawa, ON

The Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) is the first independent testing and research centre of its kind in Canada. It is owned and operated by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

ACE can test new products that are exposed to severe weather with its large and small atmospheric chambers. The test facility has a wireless environment to help companies test connected, automated, and wireless vehicle technologies, including sensor performance in challenging conditions such as snowstorms. The environment is also equipped with V2X, C-VSX and GNSS equipment.

ACE is a place to test alternative fuel and hybrid and electric vehicles. It can accommodate:

• trucks
• tandem drive systems
• full coach buses
• light rail transit
• aerospace
• military and agricultural applications
• wind turbines
• solar panels

ACE could test new products that are exposed to severe weather. It's available to customers who want to bring their ideas into a proof of concept and make them ready for market.

ACE is a partner of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network’s Durham Regional Technology Development Site.

In 2017, Continental Automotive North America and Magna International completed North America’s first national, cross-border automated vehicle test drive through southern Ontario and Michigan.

The route began in Detroit, Michigan and continued from Windsor to Sarnia before crossing back over the border and concluding in Traverse City, Michigan, with the goal of promoting innovation in the auto sector and driving economic growth.

In 2017, Continental Automotive North America and Magna International completed North America’s first national, cross-border automated vehicle test drive through Southern Ontario and Michigan.

The route began in Detroit, Michigan and continued from Windsor to Sarnia before crossing back over the border and concluding in Traverse City, Michigan, with the goal of promoting innovation in the auto sector and driving economic growth.

The Ontario Vehicle Innovation (AVIN) Technology Demonstration Zone

Stratford, ON

Research, test facilities and test beds

Public road trials, demonstrations and pilot projects

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Demonstration Zone is a site where Ontario-based companies with can test and show innovative products related to automated and connected vehicle technologies to customers and partners. The Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association operates the Demonstration Zone on behalf of the network.

This controlled environment:

• follows federal and provincial laws and regulations

• uses vehicles like city buses, fleet vehicles and original equipment manufacturers vehicles

Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS): Durham Region

Durham, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Durham Regional Technology Development Site supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, prototype and validate new technologies
• use specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Durham’s focus includes human machine interface and user experience.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Durham’s site partners include Spark Centre in collaboration with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, UOIT’s Automotive Centre of Excellence, Durham College and the Region of Durham.

Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS): Hamilton Region

Hamilton, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Hamilton Regional Technology Development Site (also known as the Centre for Integrated Transportation & mobility) supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, prototype and validate new technologies
• access specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Hamilton’s focus includes multimodal and integrated mobility.

The site has 2 testing areas in Hamilton equipped with 4G and 5G networks, fiberoptic connectivity, Vehicle-to-Everything connectivity (V2X), and Internet of Things roadside sensors. The site operates a data repository including video, audio, radar, lidar and environmental data from the testing areas.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Hamilton’s site partners include Innovation Factory in collaboration with McMaster University, Mohawk College and the City of Hamilton.

Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS): Ottawa Region

Ottawa, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Ottawa Regional Technology Development Site  supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, test and validate new technologies
• use specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Ottawa’s focus includes vehicle networks and communications.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Ottawa’s site partners include Invest Ottawa in collaboration with Carleton University, University of Ottawa, Algonquin College and the City of Ottawa.

Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS): Southwest Ontario Region

Windsor, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Southwest Ontario Regional Technology Development Site supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, prototype and validate new technologies
• access specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Windsor’s focus includes cybersecurity and cross-border technologies.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Southwest Ontario’s site partners include Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with University of Windsor, St. Clair College, City of Windsor and WETech Alliance.

Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS): Toronto Region

Toronto, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Toronto Regional Technology Development Site supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, prototype and validate new technologies
• access specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Toronto’s focus includes artificial intelligence for connected and autonomous vehicles.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Toronto region’s site partners include MaRS Discovery District in collaboration with the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University and York University.

Regional  Technology Development Site (RTDS): Waterloo Region

Waterloo, ON

Established through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network, the Waterloo Regional Technology Site supports Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to:

• develop, prototype and validate new technologies
• access specialized equipment (hardware and software)
• get business and technical advice

Waterloo’s focus includes HD mapping and localization.

The network’s sites bring together industry, academic and government partners. Waterloo’s site partners include Communitech in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation and Canada’s Open Data Exchange.

Area X.0

(Ottawa Regional Technology Development Site)

Ottawa, ON

Area X.0 is a research facility where companies and researchers test and demonstrate new connected and automated vehicle technologies. It is an Ontario Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network Regional Technology Development Site (RTDS)started and led by Invest Ottawa. The facility has a variety of telecommunications and networking equipment. This makes it the first integrated connected and automated and connected vehicle testing facility in North America.

Area X.0 has one public and one private track. Companies use the tracks to test, validate and demonstrate technologies, including vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology.

Transdev ran an automated public shuttle service in Montreal between the Olympic Park metro station and the Maisonneuve Market during the summer of 2019. Two EasyMile shuttles drove in normal daily traffic conditions. They crossed intersections that had intelligent traffic signals communicating with them.

This project built on Transdev’s previous Olympic Park Automated Shuttle Pilot that helped people get around the grounds of the Olympic Stadium.

Through the Ontario Good Roads Association, over 30 municipalities have worked together to identify preferred roads (and roads to avoid) for automated vehicle testing within their municipalities. Participating municipalities have identified over 5,500 kilometres of municipal roadways between Windsor and Ottawa, making this the largest test corridor in the world today.

The mapping of Windsor-Ottawa Preferred CAV Test Corridor is done within a real-time, online map which allows participating municipalities to highlight their local roadways as either “preferred” or “avoid” for testing. The Association plans to provide map access to the private sector agencies looking to safely test their vehicles/solutions in Ontario. For more details, please contact Fahad Shuja (Fahad@ogra.org).

407 ETR, in partnership with 3M Canada are testing 3M’s pavement marking tapes on 2.5 kilometres of lanes on Highway 407 ETR.

The pavement marking tapes are optimized for advanced driver assistance systems, like lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance. The tape increases the contrast on the road to improve lane detection, and remains bright and visible even in wet weather.