Piaggio Group motorcycles to feature 4D radar by 2022
Future Piaggio Group motorcycles will come quipped with advanced 4D radar assistance, opening the door to radar-guided cruise control and more
AN off-shoot of the Piaggio Group has developed a range of advanced 4D imaging radar that is claimed to be landing on the brand’s bikes as early as 2022.
Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) is the behind the new tech, that has been developed alongside Vayyar Imaging, which provides 4D imaging. The result is a claimed first, 4D imaging radar-based motorcycle safety platform. The complete sensor package is developed, built and supplied by PFF for mass production in Piaggio Group motorcycles’ Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS). PFF also hopes to provide the tech to other companies in the future, allowing other firms to utilise the tech in a turn-key manner.
Making motorcycle-specific assistance is not quite as easy as simply copying and pasting from the already established four-wheeled world. The PFF developed tech is claimed to meet the requirements of motorcycle-specific use, such as limitations on the overall size of the unit and the way in which a bike moves through turns.
The press release from PFF explains the new system in detail:
‘The PFF modules use Vayyar’s mmWave 4D imaging Radar-on-Chip (RoC) sensor, enabling multiple ARAS functions such as Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with a single sensor supporting a range of over 100m, and an ultra-wide field-of-view. PFF robots incorporating the radar technology are expected to be released at the end of 2021, with Piaggio Group motorcycle models equipped with the PFF sensor module launching in 2022.’
Greg Lynn, CEO at Piaggio Fast Forward, added:
“PFF is creating advanced technology products for robots and motorcycles that detect and measure objects in our surroundings to provide the information we need for mapping, object detection, and control, regardless of lighting, weather and other environmental factors. We have chosen to develop our sensing applications with Vayyar’s 4D imaging radar technology. We are excited to work with such a professional, passionate team, to develop innovative new solutions that provide our customers with a better product experience.”
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
