Revolutionizing Mobility: Humber Polytechnic Partners with LeddarTech to Shape the Car of the Future

By Anju Kakkar and Saran Davaajargal

In 2024, Humber Polytechnic unveiled its ambitious vision for “Building Brilliance to 2030 and Beyond,” focusing on reimagining learning, fostering deeper partnerships and driving impact. Aligned with this vision, faculty and researchers are pioneering innovative projects that push the boundaries of education and industry collaboration.

In a recent project, Dennis Kappen, Ph.D. , and George Paravantes MFA IxD , professors in Humber’s Faculty of Media, Creative Arts & Design, collaborated with industry partner LeddarTech to reimagine the car of the future.

“It was a stroke of serendipity,” Dennis recalls, describing how the collaboration with LeddarTech began serendipitously at a conference in Windsor, Ontario, where his team showcased another research project.

A Collaborative Vision

The partnership with LeddarTech combines the multidisciplinary skills of Humber students from industrial design and interaction design backgrounds. The project started with Round 1, which resulted in eight innovative designs from student teams. In Round 2, participants explored LeddarTech’s outward sensing technology and evolved the Round 1 solutions into cohesive driver awareness systems which integrate hands-free interaction modalities on multi-display devices in vehicles. These advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) provide real-time alerts for potential hazards and dynamic environmental changes, enhancing safety and awareness for drivers.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Pierre Olivier, Chief Technology Officer at LeddarTech, states, “The level of creativity and innovation demonstrated by the students during their final presentations was truly impressive. Their ability to integrate cutting-edge technology, such as LeddarVision, into visionary designs for the car of the future showcased a remarkable depth of thought and originality. It was inspiring to see such fresh perspectives and thoughtful solutions that could shape the next generation of automotive experiences. Collaborating with Humber Polytechnic has been a rewarding experience, and these students have shown they have what it takes to contribute meaningfully to the future of our industry.”

Exploring the Future of Driving

With the advancement of the perception module on autonomous vehicles, the cars of the future contribute to a safer driving experience for different car riders. This project ultimately aims to contribute to a safer and more pleasant driving experience using the latest technology.

In regard to the project process, Dennis addressed how students had a chance to work from a technological point of view. “When a company like LeddarTech comes in with a cutting-edge piece of technology, they ask, ‘What kind of user experiences can we build up from that?’ That’s rather close to how students will work when they enter the industry. So giving that experience in the classroom was a stepping stone to help them build their career.”

George adds that through the outcomes of the LeddarTech project, other industry partners are able to see the possibilities of collaboration. “Projects like this lead to more experiential learning opportunities for Humber and future projects for more students,” says George.

Humber’s Research Experts

Dennis Kappen, PhD, is a professor in Humber’s Faculty of Media, Creative Arts & Design and a leading expert in user experience design, human-centred design (HCD) and innovation techniques within the realm of product design and technology applications. He has been involved in the applications of Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed-Reality (MR) systems for automotive applications and drowsiness detection systems in the health and wellness domains. Dennis has more than 25 years of hard-core product design and development experience in various fields, including emerging technology, consumer products, kiosks, internet technology devices, medical products, wearable technology products and handheld electronic devices.

For Dennis, research is all about problem finding. He explains that it’s important to spend more time defining the problem, which can lead to the process of discovery. “Arriving at the right question takes time, and that is an important part of the students’ learning,” says Dennis.

George Paravantes, MFA IxD, is an Interaction Designer and a faculty member of the Faculty of Media, Creative Arts & Design at Humber Polytechnic. As an Interaction Design Instructor, his areas of expertise are in Product Interaction Design, Human Centred Design Research, Motion Design, and Multi-Modal Interactions in Augmented Reality. His industry experience encompasses fields in both Interaction Design and Industrial Design. He holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Interaction Design from the Umea Institute of Design in Sweden.

For George, research means making the invisible visible. He states, “Research gives you the opportunity to distill and crystallize things that are abstract or seem far away and turn them into something concrete.”

Collaboration Impact

LeddarTech, headquartered in Quebec City with R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, specializes in AI-based, low-level sensor fusion and perception software. Their solutions facilitate the deployment of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving (AD), and parking applications. By leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer vision algorithms, their automotive-grade software, LeddarVision?, creates precise 3D environmental models that enhance decision making and navigation safety.

Asked about the experience of collaborating with Humber Polytechnic, Reza Rashidi Far, PhD, Principal AI Scientist at LeddarTech, states, “My experience working with the Humber research team was highly rewarding and energizing. From the outset, the team showed remarkable enthusiasm and creativity, embracing the challenge of envisioning the car of the future with open minds and a collaborative spirit. Their commitment to exploring how LeddarTech’s LeddarVision? technology could enhance user experience in a vehicle context was evident. The partnership has left me excited about future collaborations and confident in the innovative potential emerging from Humber Polytechnic.”

Reflecting on the impact of the collaboration on his team and organization, Reza notes, “The collaboration with Humber Polytechnic had a significant impact on our team and the broader organization at LeddarTech. On a practical level, it brought fresh ideas and novel design concepts that challenged our team to think differently about the future of in-car experiences and how our LeddarVision technology could be utilized.”

He adds, “From an organizational perspective, the collaboration showcased the value of engaging with emerging talent and academia to drive innovation. This project also caught the attention of upper management, who recognized the potential of these student-driven ideas, elevating interest in fostering further collaboration with institutions like Humber. In essence, this partnership reinforced our commitment to innovation, not only by advancing technology but also by building relationships that keep our thinking agile and forward-focused.”

Student Perspectives

Students from Humber’s industrial and interaction design programs were able to sharpen their real-world problem-solving skills by using the latest cutting-edge technology. The project aimed to bridge the gap between physical and digital design, enhancing students’ portfolios and hands-on skills.

The LeddarTech team highlights that the students were able to develop the following skills, among others:

Design Thinking: This project required students to think beyond traditional boundaries and imagine the car of the future. Design thinking helped them approach problems creatively, empathize with end users, and iterate on ideas to arrive at innovative solutions. This skill is invaluable in the industry, where user needs and technology constantly evolve.

Collaboration: Working in multidisciplinary teams, the students learned the importance of effective collaboration—combining their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve a shared vision. In industry, communicating and collaborating with people from different backgrounds is essential, and this project provided hands-on experience in achieving that synergy.

Technology Integration with User-Centred Design: Students were tasked with incorporating advanced technologies, such as sensor fusion and wide HUDs, to enhance the user experience. Balancing the technical possibilities with practical user needs required them to understand both the potential of the technology and the importance of usability. This skill—merging technical knowledge with a focus on user-centred design—is highly sought after in the industry.

We asked three Humber graduates about their experience working on the project.

Eve Mills, a Bachelor of Industrial Design graduate, says that participating in the LeddarTech competition was helpful for sharpening skills in user-centred design, research, and UI/UX for automotive interfaces.

“I gained valuable experience in user testing and iterative design, focusing on making complex systems intuitive and accessible. This project also provided my peers and me with the opportunity to work on a client-centred project and take on leadership roles,” says Eve.

Sarah Power, a User Experience Design graduate, notes that working with LeddarTech helped with enhancing skills in tailoring presentations to diverse audiences, conducting thorough user research and collaborating effectively with team members.

“Through weekly stakeholder meetings, I gained valuable experience in adapting my presentation style to meet various needs, and they allowed me to explore audience-focused communication. Conducting user research in an unfamiliar field further developed my research skills and emphasized the importance of using theoretical knowledge as a flexible foundation for practical applications,” says Sarah.

For Jenna Brohm, a Bachelor of Industrial Design program graduate, working with a client, using multiple design platforms and collaborating with a new group were the main skills gained from this project.

Jenna notes, “LeddarTech was a great client and gave us a lot of creative freedom. As we all had different skills, it was important to put each skill to use so everyone was comfortable. This allowed us to use design platforms I never used before. Learning to use Adobe XD and Premier Pro really helped to better explain our idea and meet the deliverables.”

The Meaning of “Research”

For Eve Mills, research is the base of effective design, connecting user needs with practical solutions. Eve explains, “It’s a continuous journey of exploration and learning that results in products people can genuinely connect with.”

Asked to define research, Sarah says, “Research is an exciting adventure into understanding the way we think, feel, and relate to the world around us.”

For Jenna, research means possibilities. “Research helps you explore and guides you to what is possible,” she says.