2024-11-05

Is LiDAR Everything It's Made Out To Be?

While LiDAR is a powerful technology with unique capabilities, it's not without drawbacks. Its effectiveness often depends on the specific application and context. So, we might have written about LiDAR once in a while. Well, maybe a wee bit more than that. And why not? LiDAR excels in providing highly accurate and detailed 3D mapping capabilities, making it invaluable across every industry. Its ability to quickly collect data from challenging environments, coupled with minimal human intervention, enhances efficiency and reduces costs. It even was instrumen...
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2024-11-04

Celestial AI Acquires Rockley Photonics Patent Portfolio

Celestial AI announced the acquisition of silicon photonics intellectual property from Rockley Photonics, including worldwide issued and pending patents. The combination of Celestial AI and Rockley IP results in one of the strongest IP portfolios in the field of silicon photonics for optical compute interconnect, bringing their total IP portfolio to more than 200 patents globally. The acquired patent portfolio is comprised of three main technology categories including optoelectronic systems-in-package, electro-absorption modulators (EAMs) and optical switch technology,...
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2024-11-01

Lost Silk Road Cities Discovered With Lidar Tech

Ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan captured through advanced lidar technology. Credit: fdecomite / CC BY 2.0 Researchers recently used drones with special light-sensing tools, known as lidar, to discover two ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan’s mountains. This is the first time in Central Asia that such advanced drone technology has been used to study high-altitude archaeological sites. Often used to map areas blocked by thick vegetation, lidar proved equally effective in capturing the rugged landscape of Uzbekistan’s mountains, providing a clear ...
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2024-11-01

Long-range LiDAR Sensors – Valeo’s SCALA™ Gen 3

What is a Long-range LiDAR Sensor ? Building on over 14 years of automotive-grade LiDAR experience, Valeo’s SCALA™ Gen 3 Long Range LiDAR Sensor is at the forefront of advanced driving technology. With its outstanding performance, the Valeo’s SCALA™ Gen 3 is enhancing both safety and comfort; being a key enabler for level 3-4 highway and urban autonomous driving, but also extanding the Operationnal Domain Design of L2+ ADAS functions. This technology is based on our leadership in releasing automotive-grade LiDARs, inc...
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2024-10-29

Indian Railways To Reportedly Invest ₹3,200 Crore In LiDAR Technology To Enhance Track Safety

The Indian Railways has issued a ₹3,200 crore tender for the implementation of light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) technology to bolster track safety. What Happened: The LiDAR technology will be employed to identify fractures, faults and missing sections on the tracks, according to a report by Moneycontrol. The system will create 3D models of railway tracks using sensor images, thereby minimising human intervention and potential accidents. The tenders are for the installation of LiDAR systems across 1,000 trains and 1,500 kilometres of tracks, with the project ...
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2024-10-29

SICK takes LiDAR sensor technology to new heights

St Albans-based sensor specialist SICK has expanded its high-performance multiScan and picoScan LiDAR ranges to make them even more powerful, compact and robust. With a variety of industry specific software applications that run on-device, SICK is taking LiDAR sensor technology to new levels of performance, reliability and flexibility. The modular multiScan 100 3-D product family and compact picoScan 150 LiDAR sensors are customisable to suit a wide range of applications, with bespoke parameters, operation and integration. From robotic guidance and outdoor...
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2024-10-25

The Indoor Lab Selects Aeva as LiDAR Provider to Transform Safety, Security and Operational Efficiency for Major U.S. Airports and Mass Transit Applications

(Graphic: Business Wire) SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Indoor Lab, a world leader in LiDAR perception and analytics solutions, and Aeva® (NYSE: AEVA), a leader in next-generation sensing and perception systems, today announced that Aeva has been selected to provide LiDAR for The Indoor Lab’s LiDAR analytics platform used to improve safety, security and operational efficiency at major U.S. airports, mass transit railways, agriculture, and in smart infrastru...
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2024-10-15

Lidwave lands funding to fuel 4D lidar development

Lidwave secured $10 million in seed funding as 4D LiDAR technology continues to draw interest. Lidwave, a three-year-old start-up based in Jerusalem that is developing “4D-lidar-on-chip sensors,” announced $10 million in seed funding led by Jumpspeed Ventures and Next Gear Ventures, with a strategic investment from an unnamed Swedish truck manufacturer. While Intel’s Mobileye recently shuttered its internal development of 4D frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar technology, 4D lidar continues to draw interest in automotive and other...
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2024-10-14

New infrared camera aims to enhance safety in autonomous driving

The camera in action: Despite the headlights, the pedestrian at the side of the road is barely visible. Only the thermal imaging camera makes him clearly visible. Credit: Fraunhofer IOF Fall is here, bringing rain, fog, and early darkness. For road users, this means heightened caution, as visibility conditions increasingly deteriorate. Thermal imaging cameras that can reliably detect people even in poor or limited visibility conditions can ensure greater safety here. This is particularly true for autonomous vehicles where there may not be a human constantly observing the road...
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2024-10-09

New LiDAR Sensors more Powerful, Compact and Robust

Sensor supplier SICK has expanded its high performance multiScan and picoScan LiDAR ranges to make them even more powerful, compact and robust. With a variety of industry specific software applications that run on-device, SICK aim to take LiDAR sensor technology to new levels of performance, reliability and flexibility. The modular multiScan 100 3D product family and compact picoScan 150 LiDAR sensors are customisable to suit a wide range of applications, with bespoke parameters, operation and integration. From robotic guidance and outdoor automation to SL...
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2024-10-09

BYD Leopard 5 LiDAR model could use Huawei ADS 3.0 solution

BYD Leopard 5 LiDAR model has reportedly been spotted in spy shots and expected to use the Huawei ADS 3.0 solution. Just like the Leopard 8, the carmaker could also adopt advanced smart driving solutions for other off-road vehicle variants. Looking into the spy shots, the BYD Leopard 5 LiDAR model is wrapped with a thin film in some parts. The design is similar to the latest Leopard 5 model. It has a box-like exterior design with thick lines and curves. It gives the feel of a tough SUV. Further details show the same pull-out door handles as the current...
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2024-10-01

Huawei wants to top the flagship car market with self-driving tech

Yu Chengdong, Executive Director, Chairman of Consumer BG, and Chairman of Smart Automotive Solutions BU said that Huawei will top the Chinese flagship car market with its self-driving technologies. Huawei uses HarmonyOS smart automotive software solution to provide self-driving technologies for car companies across the Chinese automotive industry. Yu Chengdong said that HarmonyOS for smart cars could become the number one solution in the high-end car market in the next five years. The company has already integrated its solutions in the sub 500,000 yuan ra...
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2024-09-26

ECOC 2024: TRUMPF and Optomind Showcase 100Gbps VCSEL Performance in 800Gbps Transceiver

TRUMPF Photonic Components, a global leader in VCSEL and photodiode solutions for data communication, and Optomind are showcasing 100Gbps VCSEL performance at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Frankfurt, Germany, taking place September 22 to 26.. “We are delighted to have achieved a solid performance of 800Gbps in our transceiver, leveraging innovative optics technology and TRUMPF’s improved 100Gbps/ch VCSEL,” commented Yung Son, Chief Marketing Officer of Optomind. “We look forward to ...
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2024-09-26

DNV Verifies Fugro’s Stage 3 Floating LiDAR Offshore Latin America

DNV has completed the first-ever verification of a stage 3 floating LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) unit in Latin America assessing the deployment and performance of Fugro’s advanced equipment. Over a period of 55 days, DNV conducted rigorous tests on the Fugro SEAWATCH® buoy, equipped with a Zephir ZX300M LiDAR unit. SEAWATCH buoy. Source: Fugro The floating LiDAR system’s performance was evaluated against a reference LiDAR unit onshore, widely accepted by the industry, to verify its performance and accuracy ...
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2024-09-26

TSMC Collaborates with Ansys and Microsoft to Accelerate Photonic Simulations

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 24, 2024 — Ansys and TSMC today announced a successful pilot with Microsoft that significantly speeds-up the simulation and analysis of silicon photonic components. Together, the companies achieved over 10X speed-up of Ansys Lumerical FDTD photonics simulation via Microsoft Azure NC A100v4-series virtual machines, powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing running on Azure AI infrastructure. PICs are integral to applications across industries, including data communications, biomedical tools, automotive LiDAR systems, artifici...
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2024-09-23

TriEye unveils high-resolution SWIR image sensor for machine vision and robotics systems

TriEye, a pioneer of the world’s first cost-effective, mass-market Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensing technology, released the TES200 1.3MP SWIR image sensor. Based on the innovative TriEye CMOS image sensor technology that allows SWIR capabilities using a CMOS manufacturing process, the TES200 is the first commercially available product released in the Raven product family. The TES200 operates in the 700nm to 1650nm wavelength range, delivering high sensitivity and 1.3MP resolution. With its large format, high frame rate, and low power co...
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2024-09-19

Honda invests in AI Lidar application for autonomous vehicles

Image: Honda Motor Europe The development of advanced lidar and AI-based machine vision has received a boost after Honda Ventures invests in SiLC Technologies to develop integrated single-chip solutions. With radar and 2D or 3D vision systems finding it hard to distinguish between stationary and slow-moving objects, and even to detect dark objects (such as tires) at distances over a few hundred metres, the technology is not well suited to safe and trustworthy autonomous driving. The majority of time-of-flight lidar solutions, meanwhile, can be affected by interference...
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2024-09-13

Completed LiDAR Project Enhances Understanding Of Region's Landscape

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC), in collaboration with researchers from Manaaki Whenua, have completed a pioneering project using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to gain a deeper understanding of the region's landscape. This project uses LiDAR to create high-resolution maps detailing land and vegetation across the region, providing an unprecedented level of detail on the region’s topography. The newly developed digital elevation models (DEMs) enhance the accuracy of assessments for erosion, sediment loads in rivers, and overa...
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2024-09-11

Photonics Could Reduce The Cost Of Lidar

Using light to move data over shorter distances is becoming more common, both because there is much more data to move around and because photons are faster and cooler than electrons. Using optical fiber for mission-critical communication is already well established. It has been the preferred PHY for long-haul communications for decades because it doesn’t suffer from the attenuation losses of copper. It also has emerged as the dominant way of transferring data back and forth between servers and storage because it is nearly impervious to interruptions, extremely fast, and requi...
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2024-09-11

Vertilas InP VCSEL product portfolio presented at CIOE 2024 in Shenzhen, China

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertilas GmbH invites you to join our team at Booth 4D021+4D022 during the China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE) 2024 in Shenzhen on 11-13 September 2024. Vertilas will showcase its technological advancement of InP based NIR VCSEL for optical communications, 3D sensing, gas sensing (TDLS) and customer-specific applications. Christian Neumeyr, CEO of Vertilas, "We are excited to demonstrate our technology and product portfolio at CIOE 2024. Our product lineup include...
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2024-09-09

Ultra-low-power innovations, enhanced precision, and extended versatility: ams OSRAM unveils the TMF8806 direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) sensor module

Speed and precision for home appliances, mobile robots, autofocus for cameras, building automation, inventory management systems, security systems, and virtual barriers Accurate, low-power measurements with rapid response times for superior resolution and precision Easy integration into applications with limited space thanks to the compact dimensions of the TMF8806 Premstaetten, Austria and Munich, Germany (September 5, 2024) — ams OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a global leader in intelligent sensors and emitters, has revealed the TMF8806 next-generation singl...
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2024-09-04

Volvo EX90: 503 Horsepower, 600 km Range, and LiDAR Technology

The Volvo EX90 marks an incredible milestone within the vehicle international, mixing Scandinavian luxury with current electric-powered technology. As Volvo’s flagship electric-powered SUV, the EX90 embodies the logo’s willpower for sustainability, safety, and modern format, all at the equal time presenting a top rate using experience. Design True to Volvo’s format philosophy, the EX90 is a masterpiece of minimalism and functionality. The exterior boasts easy lines and a bold, assured stance that exudes brilliance. The signature Thor&rsquo...
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2024-08-26

Game-Changing New Sensor Could Make Farming More Efficient and Groceries Cheaper

A lightweight sensor system with infrared imaging capabilities, developed by an international team, can be fitted to drones for remote crop monitoring, potentially leading to more precise agriculture and cheaper groceries. This flat-optics technology, which dynamically switches between edge detection and detailed infrared imaging, could replace traditional lenses in various industries and is ready for mass production. Engineers created a compact sensor with infrared imaging for drones, enhancing crop management by allowing for precise irrigation and pest control, which could lower gro...
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2024-08-22

New 3D technology promises safer intersections; skeptics have doubts

MURRAY, Utah — Several intersections in the Salt Lake area have been outfitted with 3D technology with the hope of making the roads safer for everyone. LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, tracks everything happening at an intersection with 99.9 8 percent accuracy. "What this does it allows us to make adjustments after the fact," said Utah Department of Transportation spokesperson John Gleason. "We can analyze the data if there are a number of red light runners, or if there are near-misses that we couldn’t actually trac...
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2024-08-22

Chinese lidar maker Hesai says it could turn profitable by year end

Chinese lidar maker Hesai could be “close to profitability” in the last three months of this year, co-founder and chief executive Li Yifan told investors on Tuesday, when the company reported a narrower quarterly loss for the April-June period. Net loss for the Nasdaq-listed firm narrowed by 3% year-on-year to RMB 72.1 million ($9.9 million) in the second quarter of 2024, helped by cost-control measures and steady sales growth, while revenue was up 4.2% to nearly RMB 460 million. By comparison, US rival Luminar recorded a quarterly net loss of $130.6 million on...
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2024-08-16

New Study Finds Unique Strengths in Infrared Facial Recognition

Recent advancements in thermal infrared (IR) facial recognition technology offer a potential solution to some of the limitations faced by traditional visible-light systems. In a study published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, researchers Naser Zaeri from the Arab Open University and Rusul R. Qasim from Kuwait Technical College explore how IR imaging can bypass challenges such as ambient lighting conditions and variations in skin tone that affect visible-light facial recognition. Thermal imaging captures the unique heat patter...
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2024-08-16

Optical Metasurfaces Shine a Light on Li-Fi, Lidar Tiny, tunable "mirrors" could advance communications, sensing, and more

In this rendering of a new optical metasurface, a laser beam (green) hits the surface, which creates steerable beams of light at different frequencies (blue). Caltech A new, tunable smart surface can transform a single pulse of light into multiple beams, each aimed in different directions. The proof-of-principle development opens the door to a range of innovations in communications, imaging, sensing, and medicine. The research comes out of the Caltech lab of Harry Atwater, a professor of applied physics and materials science, and is possible due to a type of nano-engineered ma...
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2024-08-15

AI LiDAR rollout to boost airport safety

LiDAR sensors from Innoviz Technologies in Israel is to be deployed across major international airports in the US by Indoor Lab. The Indoor Lab will begin installations of the InnovizTwo LiDAR sensors to replace optical cameras at some of the fastest growing airports in the US, including Denver International Airport, Tampa International Airport, and Nashville International Airport The point cloud output of the sensors will be combined with AI to create a safer and more efficient environment for travellers. The Indoor Lab is a privately held, whol...
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2024-08-09

New era for LiDAR applications: ams OSRAM to introduce groundbreaking 8-channel 915nm SMT pulsed laser

8-channel, 915nm SMT pulsed laser enhances the performance of long-range LiDAR systems for autonomous driving World's first AEC-Q102 qualified 8-channel QFN package offering high performance and efficiency and featuring ams OSRAM’s proprietary wavelength stabilization technology Based on over twenty years of experience in pulsed laser technology Premstaetten, Austria and Munich, Germany (August 05, 2024) — With its revolutionary 8-channel pulsed laser ams OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a global leader in intelligent sensors and emitter...
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2024-08-07

SMT pulse laser diode Precise lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles

Precise lidar sensors play a key role for autonomous vehicles. ams OSRAM has launched an eight-channel SMT pulse laser with a wavelength of 915 nm. The diode is housed in an AEC-Q102-qualified QFN package. Powerful laser diodes are necessary for precise Lidar applications. ams OSRAM has launched a 915 nm SMT pulse laser diode. (Image: ams Osram) A Lidar sensor must be able to map its environment very precisely. ams OSRAM has now introduced the SPL S8L91A_3 A01, a special laser diode that can be integrated into Lidar systems. The SMT puls...
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Revolutionizing Entertainment Lighting with Cree LED’s XLamp® XN-P Color LEDs Experience the next level of lighting innovation with XLamp® XN-P Color LEDs, a high-power multi-color LED platform designed for ultimate versatility a... READ MORE

ams OSRAM’s OSIRE® E3731i and Stand-Alone Intelligent Driver (SAID) use OSP license-free protocol to connect color LEDs, sensors and microcontrollers. ams OSRAM, a global leader in intelligent emitting and sensing technologies, will... READ MORE