Autonomous driving: A push toward a zero accident future

Canavesi works as the Head of Strategy and Business Development at Scantinel Photonics, a spin-off company of ZEISS. Scantinel specializes in the development of cutting-edge optical sensing technology. Among their innovations is pioneering work on FMCW LiDAR chips: advanced components used in remote sensing systems that pave the way for full autonomous mobility. FMCW LiDAR stands for “frequency-modulated continuous-wave light detection and ranging,” a technology crucial for various applications such as autonomous vehicles and environmental monitoring.

These sensors enhance driving safety by perceiving objects and anticipating road events up to ten seconds in advance. The significance of this technology is clear to Canavesi. “You need to identify the height of the tire or any obstacle to determine whether to drive over it, detour or brake,” he says.

Traffic remains dangerous, with the European Commission reporting over 20,000 deaths in the EU in 2023¹, and the US seeing over 40,000 deaths annually. In 94% of cases, human error contributes to the accident.^{2, 3} Canavesi had his own encounter with a dangerous traffic accident. Twenty years ago, while driving back from school in Italy, another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with his car, causing it to flip over. His car slid across the road, and he had to escape through the rear windshield.

Scantinel Photonics, Europe's only manufacturer of the pioneering FMCW sensors to make this transition possible, has grown from a staff of six to over sixty since 2019 through collective effort, with Davide Canavesi being one of the very first to join the team. Their mission is to equip autonomous cars with the ability to see and react to road conditions far beyond the capabilities of any human driver.

Scantinel's FMCW LiDAR technology is revolutionizing autonomous journeys by overcoming traditional limitations with enhanced resolution and range. This innovation is transforming object detection and environmental perception, even in challenging weather. By integrating the FMCW LiDAR into a silicon chip, the company enables cost-efficient mass production of sleek, self-driving cars without bulky components.

In this mission, Canavesi acts as a bridge between customers and technology, with ZEISS pushing the start-up forward with the necessary resources, ensuring everything runs smoothly. "It's like enabling technology to soar. You don't confine the bird to its nest, you let it fly for the rest of the world,” Canavesi says.

After showing the Scantinel facility, the rest of the day is a normal workday. Canavesi reaches out to manufacturers to answer their questions and explore new opportunities in the market. As he heads out into the parking lot, a sea of stationary vehicles surrounds him. Most of them differ from each other and are all awaiting the return of their owners for the drive home.

Canavesi, his steps brisk and purposeful, shares an insight that hints at a transformation of an everyday occurrence. "You know, all this could look a lot different,” he says, sweeping his hand across the landscape of parked cars.

His assertion is in reference to new technologies in safe autonomous driving. "So much mobility is so time-consuming right now,” Canavesi notes, moments before slipping behind the wheel of his own vehicle. "Improving sensors and enabling autonomous driving would give people time to do other things while commuting. Imagine what people could accomplish if they could focus on other things in the car instead of driving.” With that he closes the car door and drives off to end another day trying to redesign what we see as normal.