VTT and Murata Electronics recently completed a research data collection campaign in Äkäslompolo, northern Finland, from 1–7 February 2025. As part of the Cynergy4MIE Visibility Improvement Demonstrator of Supply Chain 1, the campaign was designed to gather extensive development data in harsh winter conditions, including heavy snowfall, subzero temperatures, low-friction road surfaces, and significant altitude differences.
VTT’s automated multivan, Heluna, was equipped with a suite of advanced sensors to capture both environmental and inertial data. Murata Electronics supplied a MEMS gyro compass prototype and a wheel speed sensor – the latter proving particularly valuable for monitoring wheel slip under low-friction conditions. VTT collected data using a gated camera with active lighting for enhanced performance in low-visibility scenarios, a 4D radar capable of generating a dense point cloud, and state-of-the-art lidar systems.
The comprehensive dataset will be used for visibility development – such as evaluating whether automated vehicles can reliably monitor a 50-meter range on both sides when approaching intersections – and for inertial development, supporting the optimization of the MEMS gyro compass algorithms.