
Area X.O is the first integrated, end-to-end CAV test environment of its kind in North America. Located in west Ottawa on an 1,850-acre private gated site, Area X.O allows innovators to bring tech closer to market readiness sooner. Area X.O is equipped with one of the most advanced communications infrastructures in the world with 5G, real-world urban and rural mobility infrastructure with a 16km test track and comprehensive networking and sensor infrastructure connected to a centralized command centre. In addition, Area X.O offers access to crash avoidance target equipment, an autonomous Lexus 450H, Aurrigo Low Speed Autonomous Shuttles and a 4G/5G-enabled mobile emergency command station.
In February 2019, BlackBerry QNX (headquartered in Ottawa) and the Government of Canada announced a joint investment of $350M to develop safe and secure software systems for next-generation CAVs. Area X.O is a second home to this CAV leader. “Autonomous vehicles and the smart cities that they drive in will only reach their full potential if the industry comes together to address future potholes that will come from a lack of cybersecurity and data privacy. Area. X.O provides the perfect forum to help address these challenges and ensure that the technologies that will drive our shared autonomous future are both safe and secure.” - John Wall, SVP and Co-Head, BlackBerry Technology Solutions (BTS), BlackBerry
In 2018, Invest Ottawa worked with Aurrigo, a first and last-mile autonomous technology leader from the UK, to establish their North American headquarters in Ottawa. Aurrigo's PodZero pods are designed to change how people are transported on the last stage of their journey from transport hubs to and from a wide range of destinations, including airports, city centres, aged care communities, university campuses, etc. Aurrigo is now partnering with Invest Ottawa to test and validate their autonomous control system (ACS) and self-driving pods at the Ottawa L5 Test Facilities in four-season conditions as part of its global growth strategy. The first Aurrigo pod arrived in Ottawa in March 2019.
InDro Robotics specializes in drones and robots to reduce the professional risks associated with the dangerous situations their customers face. InDro has landed and expanded at Area X.O and capitalized on its unique capabilities and expertise to advance their technology development, commercialization, and business. Leveraging this facility and associated technologies, they were the first company in Canada to fly a drone over 5G and the first to receive Canadian Transport Agency licence to carry commercial cargo.
Hexagon | AutonomouStuff chose Ottawa for an international office as part of its mission to empower the future of autonomy. The company saw potential in Ottawa’s futureplex — Area X.O. AutonomouStuff, part of Hexagon’s autonomy and positioning division, offers hardware, software solutions and vehicle platforms with the goal of enabling customers for on- and off-road autonomy applications. This division of Hexagon is a global technology leader, pioneering end-to-end solutions for assured positioning on land, sea and air.