DRIVEN BY SOUND

Self-Driving Technology: Improving Safety Through Sound

DRIVEN BY SOUND

UK government-funded project developing robust, redundant
3-D ultrasound sensing for AD/ADAS
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Optical and radar vehicle navigation systems often struggle in challenging environments. To address this, Calyo has developed Calyo Pulse™, an ultrasound-based sensor system that delivers reliable imaging performance when other technologies are impaired. Ultrasound is less affected by adverse conditions like rain, fog, and dust, and can better handle the reflectivity and transparency of objects compared to laser scanners and cameras.

DRIVEN BY SOUND leverages Calyo’s 3D ultrasound sensor technology, Benedex’s expertise in safety platforms, and Cranfield University’s experience in autonomous vehicle integration and testing. The resulting product will enhance safety in autonomous vehicles by providing a vital redundancy mechanism. Additionally, the technology is versatile, suitable for various vehicle platforms, including off-road industrial applications, making it adaptable to numerous industries.

DRIVEN BY SOUND aims to deliver a fundamental vehicle navigation system designed for operation in all weather conditions and fully adaptable to various vehicle types, from low-speed logistics to port movers, and commercial vehicles.

The project not only enhances public perception but also fast-tracks the journey to Level 5 autonomy, ensuring that the full societal benefits of CAM are within reach.

— Dr Mihai Caleap,
Project lead & coordinator

Technology

The main objectives of this project are to provide a low-cost safety module capable of taking over control of vehicle navigation for use in carrying out Minimal Risk Manoeuvres (MRM). Calyo’s Pulse 3D ultrasound perception system will enable high-performance, low-cost perception and mapping which remain uncompromised by adverse weather such as fog and heavy rain. This provides a clear advantage over the predominant sensing modalities such as LiDAR and stereo vision cameras.

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Impact

DRIVEN BY SOUND will deliver on the UK Government’s goal of “ensuring safety and security” by providing a foundational vehicle navigation system capable of operating in all conditions and fully scalable to any type of vehicle, thus improving public perception and establishing an off-the-shelf computational solution fit for in-vehicle perception and localisation. This, in turn, will help enable a faster route to L5 autonomy, which is necessary for the societal benefits of CAM to be fully realised.

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Latest insights

Deep Learning for Semantic Segmentation of 3D Ultrasound Data [Research]
 Deep Learning for Semantic Segmentation of 3D Ultrasound Data [Research] 1024 572 Calyo

Presented at the 13th International Conference on Robot Intelligence Technology and Applications, 17-19 December, 2025, London, UK

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Road-Ready 3D Ultrasound Sensors: Calyo Demonstrates “Driven by Sound” at Cenex Expo 2025
 Road-Ready 3D Ultrasound Sensors: Calyo Demonstrates “Driven by Sound” at Cenex Expo 2025 1024 683 Calyo

Calyo will showcase its pioneering Driven by Sound project at Cenex Expo 2025 (3–4 September, UTAC Millbrook, Bedfordshire), exhibiting under the Innovate UK umbrella at stand C3-309 in the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Zone, Exhibition Hall 3.

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Beyond the Beep
 Beyond the Beep 1024 1024 Calyo

Parking assistance has come a long way – from basic distance warnings to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Yet many vehicles still rely on legacy 1-D ultrasonic sensors that offer only short-range, single-point detection. These systems are now a bottleneck in the evolution toward autonomy.

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Self-Driving Technology: Improving Safety Through Sound
 Self-Driving Technology: Improving Safety Through Sound 1024 480 Calyo

Calyo, Benedex Robotics and Cranfield University have joined forces to improve safety in self-driving vehicles.

The new partnership, part of the DRIVEN BY SOUND project led by Calyo, will develop a functional safety sensing platform based on 3D ultrasound, capable of operating effectively in even the most challenging environmental conditions.

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Calyo Introduces a Starter Kit for Evaluation of High-Performance 3D Ultrasound Sensor
 Calyo Introduces a Starter Kit for Evaluation of High-Performance 3D Ultrasound Sensor 1024 678 Calyo

Calyo introduces Calyo Pulse – an evaluation module that allows companies looking to add safety and productivity to their mobile robots or autonomous systems a route to evaluate and explore the benefits of next-generation 3D ultrasound sensors for robust machine perception and improved surround sensing.

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Partners

Calyo, Benedex Robotics and Cranfield University have joined forces to improve safety in self-driving vehicles.

DRIVEN BY SOUND received funding from the Commercialising CAM Supply Chain Competition.
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The Commercialising CAM programme is funded by the UK's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.
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