AMS and Ibeo Automotive Systems confirm that ams VCSEL technology is a core component of Ibeo’s new solid-state LiDAR solution, ibeoNEXT. Ibeo’s LiDAR system will be used in Level-3 automated driving on production vehicles at Great Wall Motor Company starting in 2022.

The VCSEL manufacturing technology of ams allows for flexibility in layout design regarding number of pixels, their size and pitch, and specific addressability patterns. The VCSELs can differentiate in scan and flash applications as they are less sensitive to individual emitter failures, are more stable in temperature ranges, and are easy to integrate.

(Image: ams)

Ibeo´s ibeoNEXT will be used in Great Wall vehicles to enable a highway pilot to drive semi-autonomously at Level 3. The ibeoNEXT solid-state LiDAR offers large detection range, high resolution, and large vertical angle.

LiDAR systems emit laser pulses and then evaluate the light reflected from various objects. From the so-called time-of-flight, or the time it takes for the reflected laser pulse to reach the sensor again, software calculates the distance to the surrounding objects. Modern LiDAR systems can process many laser pulses in parallel: The result is a 3D model of the environment that recognizes crash barriers and road markings as well as cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, their position and movement. In combination with a long-range and a high spatial resolution, this accuracy is a key advantage of LiDAR technology.